When does the light bulb in your brain switch on with a brilliant idea? Calvin Kwok Kin-chung says he gets a 'brainwave' when faced with a problem.
That was his experience four years ago when he was part of a team which redesigned the Lo Wu Correctional Institution. The newly designed facility is now able to house 1,400 women, compared to 182 men before.
It has two special features: advanced technology and a green design. The latter was a major focus of the redesign, Kwok, 31, says. 'We designed a better ventilation system for the building, which has no air conditioning. A green roof was built to cool down the temperature,' says the certified architect.
By far, the project has been his most memorable, and toughest, because of the stringent requirements. 'Security was the major concern, so we had to balance our design with practicality, which meant many rounds of negotiations and trial and error,' Kwok says.
There was one huge advantage to working on the project - the restrictions made him think outside the box, he adds.
'Making a prison pleasant to the eyes and comfortable for inmates while keeping it secure is a big challenge,' he says. 'A successful design is one that achieves its purpose rather than just making something look nice. And we did it. The design is now a blueprint for the institution's future development.
'It may not be the most beautiful design I've done but it's definitely the most special. I mean, who would have the chance to design a prison?'