Renowned architect Rocco Yim Sen-kee's latest masterpiece - 1 Peking Road - yesterday won the top architectural award in Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Institute of Architects awarded its Medal of the Year to the $750 million project built close to the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront for its aesthetics and its environmentally friendly design.
'The distinctive profile of One Peking makes it an instantly recognisable landmark, but it is one that maintains dialogues with history, with its neighbours and with the city's natural attributes,' said the judges' report.
Mr Yim is a frequent winner of architectural awards. His past credits include the new extension of The Peninsula hotel, the Airport Express station in Central and Citibank Plaza.
'Receiving a prize is always nice. The award proves I am staying abreast of the world,' he said.
The building was praised for its aluminium sun-shades that double as light reflectors and its motorised blinds controlled by sensors tracking the position of the sun.
The blinds are powered by energy collected by solar panels.
Its sail-like south facade, while echoing the roof profile of the Cultural Centre across the road, is also functional, allowing for a large floor area for offices in the middle floors and a shallower floor for two restaurants on the top floors.
Even though the top prize went to a private firm, the government won the most awards.The Architectural Services Department won two awards - the Merit Award for the Public Health Laboratory Centre in Shekkipmei and the President's Prize for the improvement works at Sai Kung's waterfront park.
The Housing Department got the urban design special architectural award for the shopping centre in Sau Mau Ping.
A museum in Shanghai to commemorate the achievements of Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa's late father, shipping tycoon C.Y. Tung, won the award of HKIA Members' Work outside Hong Kong.
Architect Nelson Chen transformed a 1909 building in Jiao Tong University into the C.Y. Tung Maritime Museum by restoring the exterior and adding an atrium, gallery spaces, a new internal staircase and new lavatories. He also won another President's Prize for a church in Fairview Park in Yuen Long.
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