Chinese University yesterday appointed two international architectural firms to plan its campus development, but students said the preliminary design was not consistent with the character of the university.
'CUHK's campus is famous for its simple architecture and the natural landscapes,' Napoleon Wong Weng-chi, the university's student union president, said. 'But the firms' preliminary proposal suggests a lot of taller buildings, thus bringing the type of architectural style in Central [to the campus]. 'The only good think about the design is that there are a lot more classrooms,' he said.
The firms Aedas and Edward Cullinan Architects were chosen from four teams, who drafted designs for the university's campus master plan for the years to 2021.
The winning team's design includes an 'Axis + Web' concept, which aims to connect different buildings and colleges. It also features low-density development at Pak Shek Kok next to the Tolo Highway and the conservation of heritage buildings.
Ching Pak-chung, co-chairman of the campus development steering committee, stressed that what the committee had recommended was the team rather than the design.
The committee said the team was selected for its rich experience in international campus planning and design, and innovative ideas.