Recently, The Chinese University of Hong Kong hosted a joint design competition for a new college dormitory. Following two rounds of rigorous voting and expert evaluation, the consortium of AG Huichuang and P& The T Group was selected as a finalist to design the dormitory building for The Chinese University of Hong Kong Union College. Below is the competition proposal submitted by AG Huichuang.
At the outset, the design focused on harmonizing the new dormitory with the existing building complex. The goal was to create an open, continuous architectural space that blends seamlessly with nature while offering diverse possibilities. The design respects the architectural character of the original site and caters to the functional needs of the school dormitories. Emphasis is placed on shaping the building form and external spaces to integrate smoothly with the campus.
The library serves as a fixed landmark, anchoring the design along the axial plane and preserving a visual corridor that frames the distant landscape along Union College Avenue. Through careful alignment of scale and building height, the library, Zeng Zhaotian Building, and Siyuan Library form a cohesive cluster around a central courtyard, fostering architectural dialogue.
▲ Aerial view of the project
▲ Site analysis
▲ Planning framework: Open courtyard
▲ Planning framework: Architectural colonnade
▲ Planning framework: Spatial axis
▲ Project model
Unified Skyline
The new dormitory building extends the existing cluster, breaking through the massing of the south and west wings while maintaining the same height as the Zeng Zhaotian Building. It aligns along the axis of Union College Avenue, creating a framed distant landscape. From the campus center perspective, the building forms a continuous horizontal volume, establishing a harmonious skyline and a welcoming architectural interface that complements the United College complex.
Architecture that Blends with Nature
The colonnade surrounding the building continues and enhances the original library’s colonnade design. It offers sheltered walkways adjacent to the Union College lawn and introduces the central courtyard as an integral part of the building space. This integration of natural landscapes softens boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces, fostering a dynamic, natural circulation and a rich ecological environment both inside and outside the building.
To foster intimacy with the environment, the design incorporates cascading terraces and green rooftops, creating a seamless landscape between interior and exterior spaces. The use of wood-colored grilles in public areas enhances permeability and connectivity. This design allows occupants to enjoy a comfortable space while engaging visually with the distant mountains, embodying a harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.
A Sunken Public Courtyard
The shaded sunken courtyard, dotted with art sculptures, serves as a new public gathering space at the terminus of Union College Avenue. This naturally ventilated and energy-efficient corridor allows faculty and students to move freely between the landscape and the building for relaxation, reading, or cultural and social events. Emergency vehicle access and parking are discreetly located on the lower ground behind the building, serving as the building’s entrance plaza while minimizing disruption to the Union College lawn.
Vertical Community Center
To minimize the building’s environmental impact and create a more welcoming scale, the multifunctional hall is designed as a semi-sunken space directly connected to the sunken plaza. This seamless indoor-outdoor connection allows public facilities—such as reading rooms, computer labs, and fitness centers—to be arranged in an open, multi-level layout along continuous pathways and platforms. The design fosters a lively, diverse community space that encourages interaction.
Harmonious and Unified Building Facade
Respecting the prominence of the library as the central landmark, the facade design engages in a harmonious dialogue with adjacent buildings through a modular language. Consistent color tones and materials echo the surrounding architectural cluster, creating a distinctive yet cohesive style. The building’s simple lines play with light and shadow, while carefully concealed air conditioning units and operable windows enhance the overall unity of the form.
▲ Design drawings
Project Information
Project Name: Dormitory Building Design for The Chinese University of Hong Kong Union College (Competition Entry)
Location: Hong Kong, China
Building Area: 5,100 square meters
Project Type: Public Building
Design Firm: Hong Kong Huichuang International Architectural Design Co., Ltd.
Design Leads: Lv Dawen, Cai Hui
Design Team: Luo Jinwei, Zhang Huaiyu, Cai Junyan, Li Yiqiao
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