Master of Architecture (M Arch), Architectural Design & Research Studio led by Prof. Jason Carlow.

Hong Kong residential towers are typically lacking in private green and outdoor spaces due to the high costs of floor area. Developers are maximizing GFA and sellable floor area for maximum profits. Thus this project explores ways of creating “free” GFA exempt spaces through the shifting of units, creating different balcony spaces for each unit; and other GFA exempt spaces, such as clubhouse and sky gardens. The balconies are arranged in a gradual form representing the disintegration and the blurring of the boundaries of the tower. Pencil Towers tend to be very rigid in their external boundaries, enhancing the image and perception of the narrowness. However, with the shifting of boundaries and arrangement of balconies, the physical boundary of the building is blurred, making it appear larger. 

The building is situated on a corner lot in Kowloon City, facing the Kowloon Walled City Park in the north. The overall orientation of the tower is arranged so that every unit has a panoramic view of the park. There are three sizes of residential units, with the largest at the bottom and the smallest at the top. The tower is divided into three blocks of units with sky gardens separating each block. The largest block has no north facing balconies while the smallest block (at the top) have the largest north facing balconies. The balconies are expressed as horizontal projections from the core of the building, thus creating a hovering effect of each balcony.

The kitchen and washroom are compacted against the core of the building to allow for maximum free space for the unit. The balconies themselves are organized such that they provide shading on both the east and the west side. On the south side are utility balconies for air conditioning units and laundry space. The podium consists of the clubhouse, gym, a lounge and kitchen, and a café on the ground floor.