Vortex

James Law  (Hong Kong, China)

James Law, born in Hong Kong and raised in the UK from the age of nine, he realized his talents in architecture when he was just seven years old. A self-confessed gadget freak, James’ fascination with buildings, structures and technology began at an early age. His favourite past times as a child included making robots and building computers. After completing a degree in architecture from University College London in 1992, under renowned visionary architect Peter Cook, James took up his first job as an architect at the firm of prestigious Japanese architect Itsuko Hasegawa in Tokyo in 1994. Following this foray, James moved back to Hong Kong in 1997 to take up a position as the Director of Gensler International, one of the largest design firms in the world, and to focus on technology projects. A defining moment in James’ architectural career occurred in 2000 when he was invited to design of both architecture and technology of the Dickson Cyber Express Shopping Mall – the world’s first "Bricks & Clicks" retail complex in Hong Kong. This led to James coining the term "Cybertecture", to symbolize a new kind of design which merges technology & architecture as a future design that brings people "Live The Future" .

With growing reputation, James became an active advocate in the issues of future technology and design. James then set up James Law Cybertecture International on the first day of the new century in 2001 to mark a start of a new era in design.

In 2004, James was selected as the only Chinese recipient of the Asian Innovation Award given by the President of Singapore. In the same year, the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka invited James Law to participate in a brainstorming presentation on the topic of Cybertecture for the future planning and reconstruction of Sri Lanka. In 2006, James was invited by Omniyat Properties of UAE to design THE PAD (formerly iPAD) - the world’s most technological-advanced residential tower, has won 4 awards in the CNBC Arabian Property Awards 2007 and the "Best International Apartment" at the CNBC International Property Awards 2007.

James has lectured in UK, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and China on the topic of Cybertecture, and has been guest lecturer at universities throughout the world. As an architect, James Law won the prestigious Royal Institute of Architect Award for Design in an International Competition and has subsequently become a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects. James Law is currently an Adjacent Professor at Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).

Design Synopsis of Vortex

CONCEPT

The concept for this interactive installation art piece entitled the Vortex is a conceptual vortex lines in space that seemingly shape the space at the east side of the City Art Square. Conceived as a polished organic rod, its reflection changes with the day, intermingles with the environment, interacts with the architecture of the building, creating attention and attraction to the mall.

SHAPE

Designed as an arch, the Vortex shifts its shape by the morphing of proportions stemming from the same original shape, creating a sense of organic nature as if in motion from the same originating form.

MOVEMENT

As people travel through the vortex, a sense of movement and compression and explosion is achieved, creating a portal into the landscape of Shatin Town Hall.

SCALE

The Vortex is scaled to be a prominent enveloping structure. Only by creating a scale taller than adjusting building can it create a presence facing the street and create a sense of interest that starts to make people access to the landscape. It faces the main street and creates an object of intrigue structure for passing pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

LIGHTING

Potlights are installed on the distal part of the Vortex in which would be highlighting and landscaping on evening. Explore the attention on the sculpture would attract people go in through to the landscape of the City Art Square.

Information provided by Sun Hung Kai Properties Charitable Fund Limited.