There were 37 nominations for the Hong Kong Institute of Architects highest prize in its annual awards, the silver medal and its certificate of merit. Each year, the institute also awards a president's prize.
While the silver medal and certificate of merit are awarded to outstanding architectural works in Hong Kong, the president's prize is presented to small architectural works with a contract value not exceeding $20 million.
A jury made up of four top architects Gary Chang, Keith Griffiths, Joseph Ho, Lam Wo-hei, and one lay member - the Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands, Bowen Leung - found no project in the year to award the highest accolade, but awarded two the certificate of merit.
The winning projects were the Jockey Club Environmental Building in Kowloon Tong, above, which houses the Centre of Environmental Technology, a private sector grouping involved in green activities, and the oval- shaped Chuang's City Tower in Morrison Hill Road, inset, designed by Bing Kwan of P & T Architects and Engineers.
For the $45-million Jockey Club Environmental Building, designed by Simon Kwan & Associates, the jury praised the manner in which the architect had managed to follow a strong initial design concept based on a simple geometric form to completion.
It said: 'The circular plan shape gives the building a distinct identity and it impressively complements the cluster of institutional buildings in its immediate neighbourhood.' The building's designer said that as the circular shape had the least surface area, savings had been made on material and energy 'because the bigger the perimeter, the more heat it will absorb'.