Grand Central is a major element of the Kwun Tong Town Centre redevelopment project, the largest redevelopment initiative ever undertaken by the Urban Renewal Authority, with the site spanning more than 50,000 sq m and involving more than 3,000 residents. Occupying a site area of 234,160 sq ft, Grand Central consists of four towers providing 1,999 residential units and a commercial podium comprising a shopping mall, YM² and public transport interchange. The mixed-use project plays an important role in revitalising the established community, forming an innovative recreational and retail hub and brings unprecedented public green space to the neighbourhood.

Located in Shenzhen, China, the new 150-metre-tall mixed-use tower is designed to be a world-class benchmark for sustainable design using structural innovation and natural elements, including wind to improve air quality. A pair of vertical atria from the top of the tower to the bottom of the building facilitate air flow and improve air quality throughout the interiors. The structure is an external steel diagrid providing shading — mitigating the region’s hot tropical sun — while creating a column-free floor plan for ultimate layout flexibility and spectacular views looking out to the adjacent public park and to the sea beyond.

As Vietnam’s first home-grown international hospitality group, Wink Hotel is a disruptive brand created to deliver affordable luxury for the new generation of travellers, appealing to their fast-paced lifestyle and enterprising mindset. Centrally located in Ho Chi Minh City’s District One, Wink Hotel Saigon Centre is the first of 20+ Wink Hotels to be built in Vietnam. The property features 237 space-efficient rooms that personify the brand’s ethos of chic and creative design, deep functionality and traditional Vietnamese values. Each Wink hotel is also an eco-friendly neighbourhood hub, the perfect launchpad for exploring and the perfect crash pad for recharging.

Located adjacent to a beautiful waterfront park, the Park Hyatt Suzhou re-imagines the gardens of Suzhou in a residential-inspired hotel. The project aims to connect guests to Suzhou’s landscape tradition with rooms and amenities that open directly onto internal and external gardens. Within the stepped massing, many rooms have private terraces and all have landscape views. A showcase of craftsmanship, style and design sensibilities, the hotel aims to provide a contemporary destination-level hospitality experience.

Completed in 2020, The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko is a 94-room luxury hotel located in Oku-Nikko, one of Japan's most scenic areas and a designated national park. Copper, natural cedar and stone were used extensively on the exterior, while interior spaces feature warm wooden lining. The architectural layout affords panoramic views of nearby Lake Chuzenji, Mt Shirane, and Mt Nantai to each of the three guest wings. Guest rooms have deep, cedar-framed terraces to allow picturesque enjoyment of the landscape and can easily accommodate remote working. The hotel’s functional design imparts a deep reverence for local history, tradition and natural beauty.

The Clan Hotel is a modern luxury hotel with a nostalgic story to tell. Situated at the crossroads of culture and commerce within Far East Square and Telok Ayer district, the hotel is designed with authentic touches to evoke a sense of kinship and community—where guests are treated as insiders, and part of a club with like-minded people. The 324-room property has an inventory comprising four room types: Superior Room, Deluxe Room, as well as the Premier and Grand Premier Room - part of the hotel’s MASTER Series offering customised services at every step of the guest’s travel journey.

Located in the new district of Fengdong near Xi’an, LAND Community Center serves as a social and cultural venue for the burgeoning neighbourhood. Conceived as a floating gateway for a new residential development, LAND Community Center consists of community service centre, cafeteria, gallery, multi-purpose room for educational and recreational purposes, reading room, a daycare centre for children and a gymnasium. Beyond the scope of the community centre itself, the LAND project is designed as an urban structure which aims to provide intimate pockets of public space. It reflects the ethos of the city of Xi’an by integrating contemporary design with historical attributes.

This wetland museum is located in the largest wetland near Beijing, which is the home for 40 species of birds and the pathway for 151 species of migratory birds. The museum provides information about the wetland area to tourists and visitors — especially teenagers — and educates and trains popular science enthusiasts with the help of forestry administrations. The overall goal of the project is to achieve a building that minimises disturbance to the wetland and is integrated into nature, and includes three main goals: micro impact, zero emission and full recycling.

Far East Square is an award-winning conservation development located in Singapore's Central Business District. The site, dating back to the 1820s, was once the landing point for Chinese immigrants arriving in Singapore by boat. Today, it is a heritage mall nestled among restored stores and two hotels – AMOY and The Clan Hotel. The Clan Hotel, a modern luxury hotel, is the latest addition to the Far East Square precinct with 324 keys, connecting travellers to unique experiences, including the The Clan Collective, comprising a varied group of local craftsmen, artists and influential figures, delivering a deeper cultural connection.

Suzhou International Finance Square houses a highly complex mixed-use project, within a singular form that, at 450 metres in height, marks the centre of Suzhou’s modern expansion. Office, hotel and two types of residential planning typologies are placed within a form that gestures back to the old city. The building’s curved tail allows its form to transition from the nearby Jinji Lake and surrounding lower buildings up through the tower, which gently twists to gesture back toward the water. The sinuous form helps to organise the entries and identities for the various elements of the projects.

Shanghai EDGE is a prime mixed-use development in Shanghai comprising office and retail functions. Located at the heart of Shanghai, the project revitalises the old city blocks along Suzhou Creek. The stepping geometry derived from setbacks is used to create roof terraces. Located right next to the metro station, a mega cantilevered box containing a retail area, defines a public plaza. By releasing nearly 4,000 sq m of open space back to the city, the design clearly addresses its gateway position with its connectivity and permeability. The project adopts features of sustainable building design and achieved a LEED Gold pre-certification.

Inspired by the idea of a honeycomb – one of the most scientifically efficient shapes in the natural world — the new campus is comprised of big and small hexagon-shaped cells designed to enhance connectivity. Courtyards and plazas are formed by the interlocking of cell-like buildings. After entering the campus, employees can choose to bike or walk to their destinations. Each work station is 60 seconds or less from outdoor green spaces which include rooftop gardens and terraces. The key goal is to create a well-connected, easily accessible, environmentally responsible next-generation campus for employees and visitors.

Our proposal provides world-class laboratories and office spaces within a landscaped garden setting to create a landmark headquarters for Wilmar International. The building has an organic form and is characterised by tiered landscape terraces which provide tenants access to gardens and fresh air at each office level. The envelope features ribbons of glass to provide 360-degree views overlooking the surrounding tree canopy, whilst two-metre deep ceramic horizontal fins provide solar shading to keep the building cool. An open ground floor provides a large covered public space with access to the main entrance, exhibition centre, auditorium and cafe.

Implemented by the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) and operated by Chinachem Group (CCG), the Central Market project has revitalised the streamlined moderne Bauhaus architecture built in 1939 into a 21st-century marketplace with the vision of achieving the sustainable development of a heritage building. Its mission is to transform this dilapidated and abandoned concrete structure into an urban oasis that provides open spaces for the public, a heritage landmark that has both its tangible and intangible culture preserved, and a rallying point for local residents of different ages, local-brand retailers, startups, investors and tourists.

Completed in 1974, the Shinjuku Sumitomo Building was Japan’s first skyscraper office building over 200 metres in height. Implementing a large-scale renovation while retaining functionality was a major project challenge. The effort included upgrading seismic resilience by installing a vibration-control structure. Value was added to both the building and the surrounding area by creating a large all-weather plaza, which helped to revitalise the local atmosphere and contribute to the city. This re-innovation was not a rebuilding project per se, but a new skyscraper renovation that actually exceeded the benefits an entirely new construction effort.

David Jones in Sydney’s Hyde Park District is one of Australia’s leading and most iconic department stores. Housed in an elegant, inter-war stripped classical-style building with close to a century of history and heritage, David Jones has been at the forefront of Australia’s immersive and experiential luxury retail environment since 1927. Benoy takes what is unique and exciting about David Jones and the department store at large and rejuvenates this for contemporary patrons, reinventing the “grand old dame of luxury retail” to appeal to the contemporary experience-led consumer, providing it a firm foothold in the 21st century and beyond.

InnoCell is a 17-storey building with 392 fully furnished residential units and 511 bed spaces for local and overseas co-creators and talent from Hong Kong Science Park. InnoCell brings together like-minded people and offers a perfect epitome of innovation, in line with the Science Park’s culture of ‘Work. Live. Play. Learn’. InnoCell also provides a vibrant community which demonstrates modern concepts of smart living and co-creation by creatively designed shared working spaces and ancillary facilities. The green spaces and open communal spaces are incorporated specifically to foster the wellness and enjoyment of the residents, facilitating a green healthy lifestyle and social cohesion.

The building is located on a small site in an area of Tokyo that had many temples and samurai estates in the Edo period but now has many embassies. The aim was to create a residence that could melt into this historical yet international neighbourhood. Despite the physical and zoning restrictions of the site strictly controlling the building mass, efforts were made to create a healthy environment for residents, making the most of the greenery and traditional area to the north as well as the open-sky views – afforded by the slope and low-rise neighbourhood, to the south.

Xixi Yunlu is located in Hangzhou, 500 metres away from Xixi Wetland. From the outset it has been positioned as a Systematic Life Context Construction. Following the natural terrain, the plot was divided into two parts, the north side and south side. Trees Villa, a modern city courtyard with original design, was set on one of the parts, while on the other lies a traditional Chinese Courtyard. The design absorbs elements from traditional Chinese architectural language, reflecting the traditional spirit, while modern materials are used to transform the buildings into a ‘light box’.

The Ring is an innovative commercial complex interacting shopping, social, culture and entertainment. It offers an unprecedented combination of commercial functionality and nature in China. The development encompasses a GFA of 420,000 sq m, of which 170,000 sq m is dedicated to the shopping mall and retail streets, 110,000 sq m to the grade-A office buildings, and 70,000 sq m to the indoor-outdoor botanical garden. Bridging city life with magnificent nature, The Ring possesses the largest indoor botanical garden yet in southwest China and aims to create an “urban-nature community” by encouraging citizens to enjoy living with nature.

Future Land Wuyue Plaza is a retail destination owned and developed by Seazen (formally Future Land), situated at the heart of the city centre surrounding the North Suzhou High Speed Railway Station. Benoy designed the interiors for the six-storey shopping mall, executing two contrasting yet complementary principles for the top and lower floors. Inspired by the Chinese saying, “above there is heaven, below there are Suzhou and Hangzhou”, we created a dichotomy within the mall to generate dynamics and dialogues between the “heavenly” indoor retail street on the top floor illuminated by skylights, and the striking, contemporary retail floors below.

In 2018, Yuexiu Property approached Atelier DYML as the lead architect to convert an existing old wholesale market into a regional shopping landmark that will fill the huge retail void in neighbouring districts. From a holistic approach to the programme, architectural design and space planning, the architects arrived at the design concept ‘metamorphosis’. After going through a demanding 600 days of regeneration the current big boxes were transformed into a joyful shopping destination and iconic landmark for the community. Yue City became the second largest shopping mall in overall Guangzhou city, turning a new page in urban revival.

Central has been long stereotyped as the commercial and political centre of Hong Kong; however, it has rich historical and cultural assets that are suited to sustainable urban development. The Central Market project aims to achieve urban regeneration and sustainable development through heritage revitalisation. URA and Chinachem Group (CCG) adopt a holistic approach that takes into consideration minimising environmental impacts, upholding innovation and creativity, empowering local communities, diversifying culture and economic activities, and promoting inclusiveness and exchange— the spirit of a traditional market and Central. This project has successfully created a popular heritage landmark that injects vibrancy into the district.

Grand Central is a major part of the Kwun Tong Town Centre redevelopment project, the largest redevelopment initiative ever undertaken by the Urban Renewal Authority, with the site spanning more than 50,000 sq m and involving more than 3,000 residents. Occupying a site area of 234,160 sq ft, Grand Central consists of four residential towers providing 1,999 residential units and a commercial podium comprising a shopping mall, YM² and public transport interchange. The mixed-use project plays an important role in revitalising the established community, forming an innovative recreational and retail hub, and brings unprecedented public green space to the neighbourhood.

Inspired by the theme ‘Smile & Laughter’, the 36-year-old Siu Hei Commercial Centre was transformed into a vibrant community hub, welcoming young and old visitors to Hong Kong. The once obsolete dry market is now a Food Street which brings together diverse dining options that embody the spirit and tastes of local community. The former roof space has been refashioned into a multi-purpose sports ground to cater to the community’s recreation needs. With the intention of creating public spaces that promote health and happiness, nearby schools and non-profit organisations were engaged to re-imagine and co-create a space for the community.

The new headquarters for South Korean fintech company Hana Bank creates a calming oasis where employees can interact with the larger community. Instead of a fully enclosed building with levels only accessible by elevator, the workplace is energised by a ribbon of publicly accessible park experiences — including plantings, plazas and sculptural landforms — that continue in a zig-zag pattern up through the building, with planned terraces and points of interest that encourage people to pause and slow down along the journey.

The podium design of the King Lam Street Commercial Development forms the base for a new set of commercial twin towers situated in Lai Chi Kok, an old industrial district in Kowloon, Hong Kong. The design is made up of three levels and comprises four main programme components: retail and F&B shops; two main office lobby entrances providing access to the two towers; a reconfigurable and multifunction auditorium; and finally, a large outdoor gathering area composed of a continuous green landscape of steps which extends from the second floor down to the ground level.

International Sports Cultural Exchange Centre is a community landmark building that integrates sports, culture and social interaction. The design divides the format into three parts: the main arena ‘IN space’, the multifunctional space and the office. The vertical stacking strategy enables multiple functional formats to operate independently while staying connected through public spaces. A column-free space with a truss + hanging design promises flexibility of the building for future events. The Centre serves to meet the diverse needs of citizens, provide 24/7 integrated development and establish itself as the core urban area in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Alibaba’s Central China Headquarters and Industrial Complex is located at the core of Wuhan’s inner ring. It covers a total above-ground GFA of roughly 300,000 sq m, with two eco office towers, 280 metres and 190 metres in height respectively, with a total GFA of 210,000 sq m, and a new retail commercial hub covering 90,000 sq m. The development implements Alibaba’s hybrid digital ecosystem and enhances Alibaba’s presence in central China by driving the transformation of its brick-and-mortar businesses. Benoy formulated the Alicampus concept of this project, and created an intelligent industrial cluster to support talent, entrepreneurship, work and life in Wuhan.

Baoshan Steel Park re-imagines a retired steel plant as part of a growing green artery in a new innovation district. Inspired by the site’s rich history and district master plan, the project integrates education, arts, industrial memory, and smart lifestyle elements into an urban green destination. The project aims to re-energise the site by strengthening its urban axis, restoring its ecology and facilitating urban culture. The park systematically preserves the original conveyor system, manufacturing facilities and equipment clusters and adapts them in the forms of paths, public buildings and gardens as the spatial structure of the new green artery.

The project aims to systematically improve the public realm and urban structure of Luohu District and align the district’s urban regeneration effort with its position as Shenzhen’s commercial centre. The design concept, ‘From Luohu Bridge to the Artery of Life’, uses public open-space corridors and transportation hubs as catalysts to rejuvenate Luohu into a more vibrant urban district. The plan restructured Luohu’s open-space system, introduced surgical redevelopment and infill projects, and created complete streets. Its bold vision in urban regeneration and holistic streetscape improvement has inspired city management and design professionals in multiple latitudes.