EARN UP TO 40 LUs IN HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI!

Pacific Crossings Conference Program

For Shanghai sessions click here
Draft Program (as of 6 October 2006 )
 

 Day 1 - Welcome to Hong Kong

Sunday

15 October 2006

 

Daytime

Attendee and Guest Registration
Information table available at Victoria Room 4, Four Seasons Hotel, from 12:00-18:00

 

08:30 – 18:00
Pre-Conference Optional Event

Green Acres: Golfing in Hong Kong with Ronald "Tiger" Lu
For conference attendees who are avid golfers, join this small group and play a round at the prestigious Hong Kong Golf Club. The Club has 54 holes, 115 years of history and has been host to the Hong Kong Open for 47 years.

Rental clubs available but space is limited to 24 players

For more information on the Hong Kong Golf Club: www.hkgolfclub.org
 
     

13:00 - 18:00

Pre-Conference Optional Event: Sketching Hong Kong

Throw on a pair of shorts and walking shoes, sharpen your pencils, and dust off your sketchbooks! Join Jack Sidener, FAIA, Peter Cookson-Smith, PhD, MRTPI, MHKIP, and Tom Schmidt, AIA, and discover the architectural treasures of Hong Kong's colonial past through sketching and studying the built environment. This 4-hour walking tour will include three to four sketch breaks at key locations where participants will be able to find a shady spot, immerse themselves in observation, and express what they see in the medium of their choice. Facilitators will share their tips for successful in-situ sketching and rendering techniques, while providing a personalized adventure off the beaten path.

Sketching supplies, snacks and beer not provided

Weather permitting

Limited to 50 participants maximum

SEE SLIDE SHOW PRESENTATION
 

 

19:00 - 22:00

Opening Reception and Welcome to Hong Kong at RED

DS-HK1: A Bridge Too Far

Acclimate to Hong Kong's dynamic vibe by joining fellow professionals in a relaxed outdoor setting for evening cocktails and canapés at RED, where you will meet other conference attendees in addition to members of the AIA Hong Kong Chapter at one of Hong Kong's most spectacular venues fronting Victoria Harbour and adjacent to the host hotel.

Moderator: William Lim

Featuring the film "A Bridge Too Far" and talk by Professor Edward Ng

See RED! Please click here
 
   

 Day 2

Monday

16 October 2006

 

08:00 - 09:00

Registration

 

All Day

Exhibition Booths Open

 

09:00 - 10:30

Plenary Session

Greetings and Opening Remarks:
 Grover C. Dear, Jr., AIA, President, AIA Hong Kong Chapter


 

PS-HK1: Architects at the Intersection of Design and Policy in a Flat and Spiky World

Keynote Speaker: Kate Schwennsen, FAIA, AIA National President
In the flat, (as per Thomas Friedman), and spiky, (as per Richard Florida), world of the 21st century, design matters. Design is both verb and noun, process and product, and both are critical to managing and improving the complex predicaments with which our global home is faced. In this century in particular, we architects find ourselves at the intersection of design and policy. We have unique contributions to make and important responsibilities to fulfill, as design advocates and engaged citizen architects. Our questions need to be: What do we need to know, how do we need to practice, and with whom do we need to connect in order to design a better 21st century world? Kate Schwennsen, FAIA, will open the Pacific Crossings conference by discussing her experience as 2006 AIA National President and the AIA's important role, as an organization and as a collective of individual practicing members, in influencing public and government policy at all levels.

SEE SLIDE SHOW PRESENTATION
 

PS-HK1A: Now You See It, Now You Don't: Hong Kong's Vanishing Harbour

Keynote Speaker: Christine Loh, Hon. AIA (HK), CEO Civic Exchange Hong Kong

How does Hong Kong, with limited land around the harbour, expand the area available for commercial and residential development? By creating more land! Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour has been a convenient ‘land bank' for decades -- and, through various phases of reclamation, this world famous natural harbour has been steadily “filled in” to half its original size. For the past dozen years, however, the question of how long this “disappearing act” should continue has become a topic of hot public debate, and has galvanised the people of Hong Kong to care much more about their quality of life, and urban planning in particular. This presentation by Christine Loh, Hon. AIA (HK), one of Hong Kong's prime advocates for preservation of the harbour and sensitive urban design, will outline how future development both around and 'in' Victoria Harbour will be an indicator of whether Hong Kong can rightly claim to be "Asia's World City".

 


 

 



11:00 - 12:30

 

 



Concurrent Knowledge Seminars

KS-HK1: Sustainability and the Role of Professionals in China

Similar to the American "Gold Rush" over one hundred years ago, property development in the People's Republic of China has reached a feverish pitch in the last decade. Renowned Hong Kong based property consultants Nicholas and Maggie Brooke will discuss the sustainability of current and long term planning within the PRC, and the role of foreign architects and design professionals in China's continuing economic expansion. The discussion will have a particular emphasis on the city of Chongqing -- a 31-million person metropolis nearly equivalent in population to the entire State of California.

Moderator: William Lim

SEE SLIDE SHOW PRESENTATION
 


 

KS-HK2: Hong Kong and Macau: Does Heritage Matter?

In response to years of neglect or destruction of Hong Kong's architectural heritage, there is now increasing demand from the territory's public to preserve and adaptively re-use both individual buildings as well as entire neighborhoods, to become integral parts of the community. By contrast, the nearby enclave of Macau, which has achieved UNESCO World Heritage distinction, has had a more enlightened approach for years, a result of which is a far more diverse urban fabric. This panel will contrast the different attitudes to historic preservation in these two former colonies, both of which were returned to China shortly before the Millennium.

Moderator: Sujata Govada

Panelists: Albert Lai, Rui Leao, Professor David Lung, Carlos Marreiros

SEE SLIDE SHOW PRESENTATION
 
11:00 - 12:30
Concurrent Building Tours

BT-HK1: Stairways to Heaven: Hong Kong by Escalator
Glide up the world's longest escalator with Hong Kong's premiere historian! Over the years, unmanageable traffic congestion and high density residential development along the steep, hilly terrain of Hong Kong Island's Mid-levels district made it necessary to create a new means of rush-hour transportation to move large numbers of residents to and from the Central Business District. The Mid-levels escalator carries over 35,000 people a day and climbs 135 meters (445 feet). The arrival of this unique urban transport system in 1993 simultaneously helped get thousands of people "off the road" and enabled many adjacent neighborhoods and businesses to flourish. This leisurely walking tour lead by Jason Wordie and J. Lee Rofkind, AIA, begins at the Four Seasons Hotel and follows the escalator up to its terminus at Conduit Road. Upon descent, we will visit a number of significant buildings, street markets and historic sites including the Central Police Station on Hollywood Road.

Tour Limited to 20 Persons (Tour repeats Tuesday/Wednesday)
 
 
BT-HK2 : Iconic Hong Kong

Visit the buildings that are featured on Hong Kong's colorful banknotes! Join this fascinating tour of two world renowned architectural icons: the Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) headquarters by Norman Foster and the Bank of China (BOC) headquarters by I.M. Pei. Located just a few steps from one another, these buildings will be discussed relative to site constraints, design challenges, political sensitivities, local coordination issues, client relations and Feng Shui. Both buildings are also part of the Victoria Harbour 2004 Lighting Plan, a permanent lighting and special effects display that includes the illumination of 18 of Hong Kong's most prominent buildings. Join veteran architects Sherman Kung, AIA, HKIA, and David Richards, RIBA, HKIA, and discover what makes these buildings worth more than the paper they're printed on!

Tour limited to 20 persons
 
 

12:30 - 14:00

Lunch Gathering

 
14:00 - 15:00

Plenary Session

PS-HK2: Developing China: Going for the Gold

Keynote Speaker: Ronnie Chan, Chairman, Hang Lung Properties

Gain a unique insight into the China property market with Ronnie Chan and learn how Platinum Sponsor Hang Lung Properties plan to invest a staggering HK$30 billion (US$3.8 billion) in this white hot economy by developing world-class commercial complexes in no less than 10 major cities in the next three years. Explore the ups and downs of building on such an unprecedented scale and see how the hotly anticipated 2008 Olympics is re-shaping the urban landscape as China “goes for the gold” in its rapid transformation.

Moderator: Ronald Lu

SEE SLIDE SHOW PRESENTATION
 

15:30 - 17:00

 

Concurrent Knowledge Seminars

KS-HK3: Green Building Rating Systems: Their Application in Hong Kong and China

As China modernizes, there is an urgent need for improved building performance. In and around Hong Kong, exposure to tropical rains and typhoon winds poses environmental challenges that are additional to such global concerns as the depletion of agricultural land and forests for urban use, burgeoning demand for energy and water resources, deterioration of air quality, and mounting urban waste. How can environmental benchmarks such as the US Green Building Council's LEEDTM rating system or Hong Kong's Building Environment Assessment Method (HK-BEAM) contribute to sustainability? Join LEED-AP Peter Gorer, AIA, RIBA, and other building industry professionals in a discussion of the similarities and differences between various green building rating systems.

Moderator: Peter Gorer

Panelists: Toby Bath, Joe Ferraro, Hovik Yekiazarian

SEE SLIDE SHOW PRESENTATION
 
 

KS-HK4: SOS ! Hong Kong Harbourfront Planning

Hong Kong has one of the most photographed harbours in the world -- but only from a distance. Why is Hong Kong's harbourfront so inaccessible to the public? Why hasn't the harbour been developed with the same vision as in other world class cities such as Sydney, Baltimore, Vancouver and Singapore? Join this lively panel who will consider the recent history and current state of proposed developments having a direct impact on Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour. Highlights will include an overview of recent government plans and alternative proposals for the West Kowloon Cultural Centre, redevelopment of the former Kai Tak Airport, the controversial Tamar Site Government Office Complex and plans for the reclamation of Wanchai and Causeway Bay.

Moderator: Sujata Govada

Panelists: John Bowden, Vincent Ng, Steven Townsend, Paul Zimmerman

SEE SLIDE SHOW PRESENTATION
 

14:15 - 18:00

Building Tour

BT-HK3: Airport City: Behind the Scenes

Join a rare behind-the-scenes tour of one of the world's most celebrated airports -- Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) at Chek Lap Kok. Completed in July 1998, the airport Passenger Terminal Building is the centerpiece of the 10-project Airport Core Programme (ACP). Commencing construction in 1991, eight of the ACP projects were completed on time and within budget in 1997, with the airport express railway officially opening in June 1998 -- making the scheduling and management of this project a feat unto itself. In addition to a driving tour of SkyCity and the new Asia World Expo, the building tour will showcase the multi-use, 150,000 square meter (1.6 million square foot) Terminal Two / SkyPlaza, which will provide expanded passenger handling facilities and significantly expand the airport's reach into the Pearl River Delta.

Tour Leader: Ame Engelhart

Tour limited to 80 persons
 
 


17:15 - 18:30

Special Event by Gold Sponsor Preciosa International

DS-HK1B: The Russians Are Coming: Green Development in Moscow

Discover how a country once shrouded by the Iron Curtain has blossomed into a bastion of innovative design and planning principles. Join Alexey Kurennoy, Vice President of Moskomarchitektura and Department Head of the Moscow Architectural Council, as he elaborates on how current urban planning, large-scale infrastructure projects and the development of mass housing have evolved into sustainable practices for a rapidly changing population. Explore how “green” methods of city planning and incremental expansion have taken hold, through various case studies in Moscow and throughout the Russian Federation, including the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, which features stunning chandeliers manufactured by Preciosa.


  

19:00 - 22:00

DS-HK2: Harbour Cruise and Cocktails/Dinner on the Top Deck (OPTIONAL)

Enjoy one of the world's most stunning skylines from the water and wrap up the day's events by cruising around Hong Kong's "Fragrant Harbour" to the Island's south side harbour of Aberdeen, where we will enjoy a libation (or two...) and dinner at Top Deck, one of Hong Kong's newest outdoor venues for networking atop the Jumbo, one of Hong Kong's oldest traditional floating restaurants.

This event jointly sponsored by Dornbracht, GranitiFiandre, Teuco, Villeroy & Boch, BSC and colour.living


 
 
 
DS-HK2A: Felix - The Inspiration of a Modern Classic (OPTIONAL)

Join John H. Miller, AIA, GM, Design & Planning for The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Ltd., at an intimate evening of cocktails and dinner and discover how the coupling of cutting-edge design with the traditional interiors of the 1920s Peninsula Hotel has resulted in an unforgettable guest experience. Mr. Miller will discuss how Philippe Starck's masterpiece restaurant came into being, high atop this iconic hotel, as well as what inspires the designs for new Peninsula developments around the region. Learn how the same design brief can be interpreted differently depending on the time, locale and designer, from an architect who has been "on both sides of the table...".

P.S. Don't forget to visit the restroom and discover why the Felix toilets are famous the world over!

Cost: HK$838, includes pre-dinner cocktail, dinner and glass of wine, coffee and dessert.

(Participants are asked to arrange their own transport to The Peninsula Hotel.)

This special event limited to 13 persons and reservations can only be made via info@aiahk.org
 
   

 Day 3

Tuesday

17 October 2006

 

07:30 - 08:45 College of Fellows Breakfast  

08:00 - 09:00

Registration

 

All Day

Exhibition Booths Open

 

09:00 - 10:30

Plenary Session

PS-HK3: Bridging The Gap: The New Asia Society Headquarters in Hong Kong

Keynote Speakers: Tod Williams, FAIA, and Billie Tsien, AIA, Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects

After years of operating from cramped quarters in donated space, the Asia Society Hong Kong will soon have a new home in a unique, heavily wooded part of the Hong Kong CBD in a complex designed by Tod Williams and Billie Tsien. A new building will form the entry pavilion while three mid nineteenth- and early twentieth-century colonial military structures will be transformed into spaces for cultural programs, exhibitions, and performances. Two of these structures will be converted into gallery, meeting and seminar spaces; additionally, an old laboratory will house offices and staffrooms and a pedestrian bridge will link all of these structures together through the trees. Hear how the architects were appointed for this complex historical preservation project and the challenges they face.

Moderator: Alec Stuart
 

11:00 - 12:30

Concurrent Knowledge Seminars

KS-HK5: Reaching for the Sky: Hong Kong's Mega Towers - Talk

When does a tower become too tall? Hong Kong and the Asia-Pacific region are home to a large proportion of the world's tallest buildings -- and the race is still on! What are the key differences between how these buildings are constructed in the United States and Hong Kong? To find out, join this multi-disciplinary panel discussion comprised of developers, architects, structural engineers and planners who will elaborate on the opportunities and challenges in "reaching for the sky."

Moderator: Ame Engelhart

Panelists: Craig Gibbons, Paul Katz, Thomas Kwok

SEE SLIDE SHOW PRESENTATION

 
 

KS-HK6: The Phoenix from the Ashes: Hong Kong Public Housing - Talk

Unlike Singapore, where housing policies have historically been well conceived and deliberately planned, the birth of public housing in Hong Kong has been described as "almost accidental and largely reactive". The massive 1953 Christmas Day fire at Shek Kip Mei, a squatter area in Hong Kong's Kowloon district, was one of a series of incidents that marked the start of the territory's public housing program. Faced with some 50,000 homeless fire victims, the Hong Kong government stepped in to provide low cost emergency accommodation. However, it was fully 20 years later before the Hong Kong Housing Authority was established and a systematic public housing program was conceived. Explore the history, politics, and future challenges to providing public housing in the increasingly diverse environment that is Hong Kong today.

Moderator: Nelson Chen

Panelists: Thomas Chan, Professor Tunney Lee, Professor Jack Sidener

SEE SLIDE SHOW PRESENTATION
 
11:00 - 12:30
Concurrent Building Tours

BT-HK4: Stairways to Heaven: Hong Kong by Escalator

Glide up the world's longest escalator with Hong Kong's premiere historian! Over the years, unmanageable traffic congestion and high density residential development along the steep, hilly terrain of Hong Kong Island's Mid-levels district made it necessary to create a new means of rush-hour transportation to move large numbers of residents to and from the Central Business District. The Mid-levels escalator carries over 35,000 people a day and climbs 135 meters (445 feet). The arrival of this unique urban transport system in 1993 simultaneously helped get thousands of people "off the road" and enabled many adjacent neighborhoods and businesses to flourish. This leisurely walking tour lead by Jason Wordie and J Lee Rofkind, AIA, begins at the Four Seasons Hotel and follows the escalator up to its terminus at Conduit Road. Upon descent, we will visit a number of significant buildings, street markets and historic sites including the Central Police Station on Hollywood Road.

Tour limited to 20 Persons (Tour repeats Wednesday)
 
 

BT-HK5 : War & Peace: The New Asia Society Headquarters Site Tour

Follow up the morning’s discussions by Tod Williams, FAIA, and Billie Tsien, AIA in a visit to the site of the new Asia Society Hong Kong Headquarters on Supreme Court Road. Discover first hand how three colonial-era British military armories will be transformed from “war to peace” and how a new building and aerial walkways will link the various parts of the site together. This informative guided tour will highlight the initial site constraints which Williams + Tsien soon converted into opportunities for adaptive re-use in this complex 'green-field + historic preservation' project.

Tour Leader: Alec Stuart

Tour limited to 30 Persons
 

12:30 - 14:00

Lunch Gathering

 

14:00 - 15:00

Plenary Session

PS-HK4: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: 100 Years of Architecture in Hong Kong

Keynote Speaker: Bernard Lim, FHKIA, President HKIA

and

PS-HK4A: One Country, Two Cultures

Keynote Speaker: Rocco Yim, FHKIA, Hon. AIA (HK)

Hong Kong is a city that continues to reinvent itself: amidst the endless sound of jackhammers, you may miss something if you blink! Join leading architects Bernard Lim, FHKIA, President HKIA, and Rocco Yim, FHKIA, RIBA, Hon. AIA (HK), in their discussion of the dynamic growth of Hong Kong from its "barren rock" origins to the thriving metropolis of today, and beyond. Join us in congratulating the Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA) on their 50-year anniversary and discover how the HKIA has taken a leading role in promoting the architectural profession in Hong Kong, and exchanging best practices with the PRC via such bilateral agreements as CEPA and APEC.

Moderator: Nelson Chen

SEE SLIDE SHOW PRESENTATION
 
 

15:30 - 17:00

Concurrent Knowledge Seminars

KS-HK7: Bridge Over Troubled Water: An Ecolodge in China

Gain a sneak preview of one of China's first sustainable resorts -- the Crosswaters Ecolodge and Spa in Guangdong province. Tasked by the Chinese Central Government to become a model of sustainable design, a diverse international team -- including master planner / landscape architect Hitesh Mehta, eco-architect Paul Pholeros, and interior designer
J Lee Rofkind, AIA, -- rose to the challenge. Discover the sustainable practices that were the basis of the design, the role of the owner / developer in mandating these requirements and the role of the designers in educating the supporting team members. From scribbles to scaffolding, learn about this challenging project and how the design team coped with torrential downpours, financial constraints and conflicting commercial and philosophical goals.

Moderator: J Lee Rofkind

Panelists: Hitesh Mehta, Paul Pholeros


 


 

KS-HK8: Delta Queens: The Pearl and Yangtze River Deltas

Overflowing with activity, the Pearl and Yangtze River deltas are two of China's largest points of ingress for international commerce. This cross-cultural panel will provide an overview of the current state of proposed developments in the Pearl and Yangtze River Deltas, with particular emphasis on the large-scale residential, urban new-town planning and transportation issues being faced in these rapidly developing regional hubs of developing China. Join this informative panel to discuss current strategies and the challenges they face.

Moderator: Glenn Wing

Panelists: Toby Bath, Chi Chung Wong, Greg Yager

SEE SLIDE SHOW PRESENTATION
 

15:15 - 18:00

Concurrent Building Tours

BT-HK6 : Reaching for the Sky: Hong Kong's Mega Towers - Walk
Soon to become Hong Kong's tallest building, the 108-story International Commerce Center (ICC) designed by KPF will be a remarkable mixed use development above one of Hong Kong's busiest mass transit nodes, complete with a 5-star hotel on the top fifteen floors. At 490 metres (1,607 feet), the ICC will be taller than the proposed Freedom Tower in New York City, and, together with Two International Finance Center (2 IFC) on Hong Kong island, will form a visual gateway into Hong Kong's diminishing harbour. Also visit the Harbourside, a Hang Lung Properties development, which takes the idea of high-rise living to an unbelievable new level!

Tour Leaders: Julia Lau and Fanny Lee

Tour limited to 50 Persons
 
 


 

BT-HK7 : Hong Kong Public Housing - Walk

The wrecking ball is poised to swing: Slated for demolition, the Shek Kip Mei Public Housing Estate is one of the earliest examples of Hong Kong's public housing estates and was originally constructed to provide housing for 50,000 homeless squatters after the Shek Kip Mei fire in 1953. At 28 SM each (300 SF), each tiny apartment housed five people each for a rent of less than US$2 per month at the time. While foreign tourists visiting the apartment complexes often referred to them as "prisons", discover the history, politics, and social implications of this slice of Hong Kong's colonial heritage, in addition to how the acceptance of very high-density living conditions in Hong Kong has persisted up until today -- more than 50 years later.

Tour Leader: Kenneth Hau

Tour limited to 20 Persons
 

19:00 - 22:00

DS-HK3: Climbing The Peak
We'll "climb" to the top of Hong's Kong's Victoria Peak via the Peak Tram -- a historic funicular that has been in continuous operation since 1888. After ascending 368 metres (1,207 feet) along scenic steep gradients, soak up the stunning views of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon from the top of "the Peak", at this social and networking event. Hosted and sponsored by the Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA), come meet other Asia-based design professionals and take advantage of the networking opportunities in "Crossing the Pacific".

This event sponsored by the Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA)
 
 
DS-HK3A: Spring Moon: Cantonese by Design (OPTIONAL)

Indulge in a fabulous Chinese banquet while enjoying a dinner presentation at the Peninsula's flagship Cantonese restaurant, Spring Moon. Join interior designer Henry Leung of Chhada Siembieda Leung in this exclusive gathering, as he discusses how the rich, historic design traditions of China can provide inspiration for contemporary, commercial interiors. Discover how the understanding and incorporation of local culture is increasingly critical to developing relevant design solutions in today's global business environment.

Cost: HK$838, includes pre-dinner cocktail, dinner and glass of wine, coffee and dessert.

(Participants are asked to arrange their own transport to The Peninsula Hotel)

This special event limited to 22 persons and reservations can only be made via info@aiahk.org
 
   

 Day 4

Wednesday

18 October 2006

 

07:00 - 08:00 AIA - NWPR Board Meeting  
08:00 - 08:45 AIA - NWPR Annual Business Meeting  

08:00 - 09:00

Registration

 

09:00 - 14:00

Exhibition Booths Open

 

09:00 - 11:00

09:00 - 10:15

Plenary Session

PS-HK5: Green Design and Planning

Keynote Speaker: Kenneth Yeang, RIBA, Hon. FAIA, Llewelyn Davies Yeang and T.R. Hamzah & Yeang

Sustainable development and ecologically-responsive architecture continues to be a growing trend in China's explosive urban growth. Kenneth Yeang, Hon. FAIA, a principal of the UK architect and planning firm, Llewelyn Davies Yeang and its sister company, Hamzah & Yeang (Malaysia), is an architect-planner best known for his signature green buildings and master plans. Dr. Yeang will elaborate on the importance of ecological design in the Asia-Pacific region, and the opportunities for passive low-energy design of tall buildings -- which he calls the ‘bioclimatic skyscraper' -- via case studies of his work in China, Malaysia, Singapore and elsewhere.

Moderator: Grover Dear
 
 
10:30 - 11:00

PS-HK5A: Color Me Green: A Global Overview of Sustainable Timber in Architecture

Keynote Speaker: Alberto Goetzl

As a follow up to Kenneth Yeang's discussion on sustainable development and ecologically-responsive architecture, join Alberto Goetzl of Seneca Creek Associates, LLC, in his discussion of the world's forest resources, wood products and the role of wood in green building. Timber products can be sourced in a sustainable manner to meet the needs of the global construction and building design industry. Nearly one-third of the planet is covered with trees and the wood that they provide utilizes the sun's energy to store huge volumes of carbon. Wood is a renewable resource that, when managed sustainably, is one of the essential products for designing environmentally-friendly buildings. Although not all of the world's forests are properly managed and many challenges -- ranging from development pressures to illegal logging -- face the world's wood producers and wood consumers, forests in many areas are being managed sustainably and are the source of numerous products used in design and construction. Find out about the world's forests, follow the flow from forest to product to construction and learn about the role of timber in green building.

Mr. Goetzl's presentation sponsored by American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), Title Sponsor of Pacific Crossings.

Moderator: Grover Dear

SEE SLIDE SHOW PRESENTATION
 

11:00 - 12:30

Concurrent Knowledge Seminars

KS-HK9: Believe It or Not: Feng Shui in Modern Architecture

Can the orientation of your building bring good luck? Will the position of a door make or break your business? Do water views really guarantee that money will flow in? Along with the explosive growth of China has come a corresponding interest in all things Chinese, including the ancient practice of Feng Shui. Literally "wind and water", this belief has logical roots in the careful siting of low rise buildings in coastal areas where typhoons were prevalent and incorrect planning could lead to disaster. What is the historical origin of geomancy and how reasonable is it for Feng Shui to dictate the design of contemporary buildings? Join this panel discussion to unravel the mysteries behind this ancient art and learn whether you too should be consulting a Feng Shui Master!

Moderator: Kenneth Hau

Panelists: Michael Chiang, Dominique Levack
 

 

 

KS-HK10: Rail Estate: Place Making in Hong Kong

Have a tropical climate, mass transit systems and speculative property development conspired to ensure that Hong Kong's major gathering spaces will always be faux-outdoor, overly air conditioned indoor spaces? What are the pros and cons of high density compact living, extremely high levels of transit use and very low levels of private car ownership? Is it possible for Hong Kong to create people oriented places that are authentic and reflect a new generation of thinking? In this thought provoking panel discussion, Hong Kong's transit-related developments will be contrasted with those in New York, Vancouver, Baltimore, Sydney and elsewhere. Leaders from Hong Kong's rail transport industry will be joined by 'place-making' experts, who will discuss the marriage of people-moving, property development and urban place-making to answer the question: When is a place not really a place?

Moderator: Ronald Lu

Panelists: Raymond Ch'ien, Peter Cookson-Smith, Thomas Ho


 
 



11:00 - 12:30
Conc