The challenge of designing a space for the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) in Hong Kong was to offer the most flexible framework for a variety of activities such as workshops, exhibitions, performances and others to happen. The rough concrete shell was therefore planned as a adaptive spatial infrastructure. To reinforce the concept of a “tunnel” between Zurich and Hong Kong and invite the neighbourhood to interact with the space the façade is worked out as a porous interface. Instead of a fix facade two layers of polycarbonate roller shutters create a translucent buffer zone that can alternately or simultaneously lift up and fully open the end of the “tunnel” to the street. The 25m long ROOM can on the other hand be configured in a sequence of different sized spaces.
The complex technical ceiling turns out to be the anchor point for any kind of support installation like sound-, lighting or art-suspension systems and hosts the additional functional items as blackout curtains and reversed projection screens that help layer and structure the space.
About Connecting Space
Connecting Spaces Hong Kong-Zurich is a transdisciplinary and transcultural project initiated by the Zurich University of the Arts.
It brings together two otherwise separate spaces, each based in a concrete locality. This particular spatial and media constellation serves to establish and test different artistic and educational settings. It also allows project groups and ventures to exchange ideas across geographical and cultural boundaries. Besides its infrastructural function, this “tunnel” is porous and thus enables transdisciplinary and transcultural observation.
The spaces and tunnel are tools for producing questions related to local urban realities and their corresponding local creative scenes. They are also stages on which the affiliated projects can explore such questions and interrelate with one another.