Collateral event of 16th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia Hong Kong Exhibition “Vertical Fabric: density in landscape”

100 Towers 100 Architects To re-define the city’s tower typology beyond Incubating visions for vertical freespace

Collateral event of 16th International Architecture Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia - Hong Kong Exhibition ("Hong Kong Exhibition") “Vertical Fabric: density in landscape” (垂直肌理：密度的地景) held its official opening on 25^th May 2018 in Venice, Italy. The opening ceremony was attended by government officials, professionals, media and architects from the cross-strait regions and other parts of the world.

Jointly organized by The Hong Kong Institute of Architects Biennale Foundation (HKIABF) and the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC), with The Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA) as the Partner and Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) as the Lead Sponsor, the Hong Kong Exhibition “Vertical Fabric: density in landscape” is staged from 26^th May to 25^th November, 2018 in Venice, Italy. The Hong Kong Exhibition is curated by Professor Weijen Wang as the Chief Curator, together with Co-curator Mr. Thomas Chung, Co-curator Mr. Thomas Tsang, and Managing Curator Ms. Grace Cheng.

In alignment with “Freespace”, the theme of the 16th International Architecture Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia, the Hong Kong exhibition adopted the theme of “Vertical Fabric: density in landscape” (垂直肌理：密度的地景) to illustrate Hong Kong’s unique vertical architecture and urbanism with innovation visions, in order to demonstrate the capabilities of Hong Kong as a vertical city, incubating visions for freespace facing global challenges in technology, environment society and culture.

 It is the first time for the Hong Kong Exhibition to display 111 tower models as exhibits. These tower models are based on 3 different structural bases each with fixed infrastructures of 360mm square plan extrusion and 2m in height as typical Hong Kong tower architecture. They are designed by 94 exhibitors from Hong Kong, the Mainland, Taiwan and overseas,  including Thailand, Brazil, the Netherlands, Japan, USA, Spain and Switzerland, etc., which are set to re-define the typological, spatial and facade potential while maintaining the constrains of the tower’s envelope as a collective urban form.

The Hong Kong Exhibition’s Grand Opening in Venice

“Vertical Fabric: density in landscape”

By installing 111 towers marching along the courtyard extending into the exhibition rooms in Venice, the Hong Kong Exhibition illustrates the aesthetic of density, unique and compactness of Hong Kong’s urban form to the world audience at Venice. In the grand opening, the Guests of Honour and officiating guests jointly unveiled the Hong Kong Exhibition by signing on the white towers which symbolized the high density and vertical urban architecture of Hong Kong's urbanism, to mark the official opening of the Hong Kong Exhibition. The honourable guests attended the grand opening of the Hong Kong Exhibition “Vertical Fabric: density in landscape” are as follows:

Guests of Honour in Grand Opening:

1. Mr. Li Ruiyu, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Italy
2. Ms. Shirley Lam, JP, Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic & Trade Affairs to The European Union

Officiating guests in Grand Opening:

1. Mr. Marvin Chen, President of The Hong Kong Institute of Architects
2. Mr. Ivan Ho, Chairman of The Hong Kong Institute of Architects Biennale Foundation
3. Ms. Caroline Cheng, Council Member of Hong Kong Arts Development Council
4. Ms. Winsome Chow, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Arts Development Council
5. Ms. Deland Leong Wai Man, Vice President of Cultural Affairs Bureau of Macau SARG
6. Professor Weijen Wang, Chief Curator of the Hong Kong Exhibition
7. Mr. Thomas Chung, Co-curator of the Hong Kong Exhibition
8. Mr. Thomas Tsang, Co-curator of the Hong Kong Exhibition
9. Ms. Grace Cheng, Managing Curator of the Hong Kong Exhibition

Mr. Marvin Chen, President of The Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA), Partner of the Hong Kong Exhibition said at the grand opening that, “The Hong Kong Institute of Architects is honoured to be the partner of the Hong Kong Exhibition. We will continue to encourage our architects to join international architectural exhibition like International Architecture Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia so to exchange creativity and broaden our architects’ global networks out of Hong Kong. We are also excited to have the opportunity to discuss opportunities for architects in the Belt and Road cities during the grand opening in Venice.”

Mr. Ivan Ho, Chairman of The Hong Kong Institute of Architects Biennale Foundation, an Organiser of the Hong Kong Exhibition remarked that, “The International Architecture Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia is one of the most influential events for architects in the world to showcase their new projects and architectural planning of their countries. We are excited to see the 111 towers staging at the Hong Kong Exhibition which presented a valuable occasion for architects to express their different ideas beyond for the city’s tower architecture.”

Ms. Caroline Cheng, Council Member of Hong Kong Arts Development Council, another Organiser of the Hong Kong Exhibition, said, “We have witnessed the advancements made by Hong Kong architects over the past 12 years through our participation in the International Architecture Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia. Looking ahead, we are determined to promote the art of architecture in the region and to help in the development of Hong Kong’s creative industries.”

Speaking on the same occasion, Ms. Shirley Lam, JP, Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic & Trade Affairs to The European Union said that, “Hong Kong is characterized by high density and buildings on its skyline. Hong Kong exhibition will provide a platform for participating architects to explore the free space with innovative ideas and practical solutions so to strive for a balance of urban development and sustainability in Hong Kong.

The Chief Curator of the Hong Kong Exhibition, Professor Weijen Wang said that, “Hong Kong is unique for the compactness of its vertical architecture and urban form in high density. The high density of Hong Kong’s urban landscape will reappear with 111 tower models. We invited architects from local and abroad to re-think the design of tower typology beyond. The Hong Kong Exhibition would become a platform for dialogue with the world, shaping a discourse of Hong Kong’s urbanism and vertical architecture. Meanwhile, the curatorial team wishes to express our incubating needs for vertical freespace while the city is facing global challenges in technology, environment, and society and culture.”

Exhibitors’ Forum and Belt and Road Forum

In addition to the exhibition, the Hong Kong Exhibition also organized the Exhibitors’ Forum on 24^th May, 2018, with over 30 Hong Kong exhibitors and global architects joined the forum and shared their views and unique insights on various architectural issues.

Another forum themed on “Hong Kong Architecture and Urbanism with Belt and Road” was held on 25^th May, 2018, with Ms. Shirley Lam, JP, Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic & Trade Affairs to The European Union as the Guest of Honour, and Mr. Marvin Chen, President of The Hong Kong Institute of Architects, Ms. Ewa P. Porębska, Editor in chief of the Architektura- Murator and Vice-President of ZPR MEDIA SA publishing house, and Mr. Thomas Tsang, Co-curator of the Hong Kong Exhibition and Associate Professor of　the Department of Architecture of The University of Hong Kong as the speakers. They shared their views on how architects could apply Hong Kong’s vertical architecture and urban form to the Belt and Road cities and yet keeping the local culture and tradition in these cities.