Hong Kong is vying to be an education hub in the region. To achieve this goal, architects will have an important role to play in designing buildings and facilities that will maximise learning and teaching. Aedas Hong Kong has the foresight to identify the need for a new breed of buildings, having first foraged into designing a school in 2000. The company is fast breaking the mould of traditional design.
Aedas managing director Kyran Sze believes architects have a civic duty to shape the environment for future generations.
'Our first project was for the Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd), building a model primary school in 2000. We deliberately headed into the education sector to find more work. Diversification of our portfolio is important. We are cautious about putting all our eggs into one basket,' Mr Sze said.
'Our education design team is always looking for young architects and designers fresh out of school because they bring their own ideas. They have their own views on how lessons should be taught. They know what is best for them to learn.'
This means classroom designs that foster interactive learning, breaking the mould of traditional classroom dictation learning.
'We don't want to put people in boxes or have a pattern of a set number of square metres per student. The classrooms shouldn't be like lecture halls,' he said.
