Young and promising Los Angeles-based design studio Hopscape is poised to conquer China's flourishing architectural landscape. In just three short years since its inception in 2012, the American design firm has lent its 40 years of combined global architectural expertise to eight major destinations across the United States and China. "When we design something, we look for the authenticity and specificity of the project," says Alex Lin, executive director and co-founder. "You need to find the DNA of a place - its history, culture and environment. Our design vision focuses on understanding and building around that DNA." Derived from the real estate acronym HOPSCA, for hotel, office, parks, shopping centres, convention facilities and apartments, Hopscape aspires to think outside the box of conventional design philosophies to create authentic destinations integrating the needs of people and of the environment. The company's upcoming project, Tangshan Westrail City (TWC) in China, attests to this. Drawing around Tangshan's history as an industrial city and coal mining centre since the Qing dynasty, Hopscape derives its design inspiration for TWC from the formation of coal strata, crystals and caverns. Slated to open next year, the 900,000-square-metre mega mixed-use project will feature a 200-metre-long digital sky, ice rink, cinema, spa, fitness centre and apartments, among other attractions. "As a small company, we have the design freedom and the advantage of easily adapting to client needs," Lin says. "We work in a co-creative, collaborative way where clients are able to explore with us." As China looks towards a healthy infrastructural climate, with the construction sector forecast to grow 8.5 per cent year-on-year through 2017, Hopscape offers Asian investors, developers and local design firms opportunities for creative partnerships and an entrance into the American market. "We live in a globalised world that's become very small, making collaborations easier, more innovative, meaningful and fun," Lin says. "At Hopscape, we know no bounds." Hopscape http://www.hopscape.com