The grand opening of the 2022 Alpha Architecture Conference was recently held at the Nan Fung International Convention & Exhibition Center in Guangzhou. An exhibition themed “Transformation of Smart Sustainable Cities” was organized by the Architecture Technology Exhibition and World Architecture Festival China (WAFC). Benoy attended and presented our concepts and projects. Around 10,000 visitors attended the event, with another 65,000 viewers watching online.
We showcased latest mixed-use developments by the Hong Kong and Shanghai studios, such as the Zhuhai Shimao Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Port City Commercial and Cultural Centre project; the GMC Plaza in Pazhou, Guangzhou; the Shenzhen Huaide Mixed-Use; and the Shenzhen Ping An Finance Centre.
During the event, Matthew Bibbey, Associate Director, gave a keynote speech on the subject of “Commercial Design and the City: A Delicate Symbiosis”. As urbanisation accelerates, problems such as population density, environmental pollution, traffic congestion and energy shortages are becoming more prominent. Matthew and six other colleagues from other design firms shared their insights on current trends such as urban renewal, sustainable design, digital transformation and the construction of smart cities, as well as practices and experiences in specific projects.
Matthew shared that the city is a living breathing organism teeming with life, patterns and routines of the society that flows within it. As architects, it is our role to carefully consider how every new development might be sewn into this existing fabric. A sustainable development is one that lasts. One that reaches out and connects in a meaningful way with its surrounding context. Highlighted through several case studies of recent Benoy work, this talk will explore design and the city, a delicate symbiosis.
In his speech, Matthew cited Wenzhou INCITY and Shenzhen Huaide Mixed-Use and further discussed the delicate symbiotic relationship between commercial design and the city.
The “Alpha Architecture Conference” is held in Guangzhou every March and covers exhibitions of new architectural projects, designs, technologies and materials worldwide. It also collaborates with major professional media and other professional organisations around the world to plan and hold professional conferences on hot topics.
