The University Square Campus Plæne by Campus Development Office is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award i Jern in Landskabsplanlægning og Havedesign Competition Category.
JernLandskabsdesign· 2025
The University Square Campus Plæne
Client: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
A' Design Award i Jern Winner in Landskabsdesign Category
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The Design
About The University Square Campus Plæne
University Square er et landskabsdesign til et universitetsområde i Hong Kong. Et underudnyttet areal blev omdannet til en fodgængervenlig plæne og åbent område på 2.200 kvadratmeter, med mål på cirka 60 gange 36 meter. Plænen danner et centralt mødested og forbedrer færdslen mellem campusbygningerne. To eksisterende, fuldvoksne træer er bevaret som blikfang og indrammet af specialdesignede træterrasser med siddepladser, som er håndlavet på stedet. De todelte dæk understøtter uformelle samlinger, hvile og store campusarrangementer.
The Recognition
About the A' Design Award i Jern
The University Square Campus Plæne er vinder af A' Design Award i Jern, en prestigefyldt anerkendelse, der tildeles gode designs, som opfylder de professionelle og industrielle krav, man forventer af veldesignede skabelser. Jernvinderne viser stor dygtighed, høj specialisering, ekspertforståelse og kreativ kapacitet hos deres skabere. The University Square Campus Plæne forventes at være en højt estimeret, beundret og kær skabelse, der er praktisk og innovativ. Dette design, der har vundet A' Design Award i Jern, integrerer branchens bedste praksis og har kompetente tekniske egenskaber knyttet til knowhow og talent. The University Square Campus Plæne respekteres for sin grundighed og er designet til at levere forbedringer af livskvaliteten, der er med til at gøre verden til et bedre sted.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- The University Square is a project that rejuvenated an existing low-utilization area into a 2,200 s.m. pedestrian friendly lawn and open space that significantly enhance the quality of the PolyU community.
The project introduce a new symbolic and iconic center for the main campus, and enhance the circulation between campus blocks. The openness of the lawn also provide a groundbreaking social interaction mode. - Dimensions & Packaging
- The lawn is a 2,200 square meter open space. The lawn itself is roughly 60 meter x 36 meter long.
- Tags
- Lawn, Open Space, University, Institutional, Green Area, Heritage preservation
- Production Technology
- The usual preference for large empty space in campus setting, leans toward constructing academic or research related facilities, but through reimagining the existing plaza and surrounding space, the design creates a 2,200 s.m. pedestrian-friendly lawn and open area that enhances circulation around Block M and the Library Area. This redefined the value of open space in academic environment, as the space will not only provide a serene retreat for relaxation and reconnection with nature but also to accommodate large-scale events for the PolyU community and visitors, such as Flag raising ceremonies, Graduation ceremonies, Information Day, academic fairs to cultural celebrations. These events serve as a welcoming and dynamic showcase for campus life, and strengthens PolyU's reputation as a forward-thinking and inclusive institution.
- Design Challenge
- To minimize disturbance to the daily operation of the campus, the bulk of the construction is compressed into the summer holiday period. This limited window of time is further squeezed as Hong Kong faced some of the heaviest rainfall in the past 50 years during 2023 summer. The design and construction team had implemented a phased approach, with more flexible working schedules to ensure the PolyU Community can continue to their operations smoothly and the pedestrian flow around the site is seamless.
- Research
- The design team conducted a thorough observation of the younger generation's behavior and identified a key trend: they enjoy being seen and engaging in social interactions within public spaces. To cater to this preference, the team reimagined the existing plaza, transforming it into a vibrant, open space that fosters connection and visibility. The new design features expansive, tree-lined deck seating areas that are both inviting and functional, encouraging people to gather, relax, and interact. The open layout ensures that the space feels inclusive and accessible, while the strategically placed seating under the trees provides a blend of shade and comfort. This thoughtful redesign not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of the plaza but also aligns with the younger generation's desire for spaces where they can socialize, be seen, and feel a sense of community. The result is a dynamic, welcoming environment that bridges functionality with modern social trends.
- Inspiration
- The design concept is to balance the site's natural heritage and introduce the PolyU community of a new social interaction mode, to see and to be seen. This bold design solution represents a new paradigm in campus design, enhancing the sense of community, and strengthen connection between nature.
- Project Duration
- The project started in March 2023 and completed for Grand Opening in October 2023.
- Operation Flow
- The lawn celebrated highlight the two existing veteran trees, integrating them into the design with new timber sitting decks to create popular gathering spots. The custom made deck seating with its irregular shaped decks, is hand-crafted and constructed on site. This approach not only preserved the trees as focal points that encourage the community to sit and interact, but also its warm timber tones add a touch of artistry to the space, making it visually striking. The two tier deck also allow for flexibility in terms of use, and allow users to interact and form different types of engagement. This thoughtful integration of heritage and modernity sets a new paradigm in campus design, enhancing the sense of community and fostering a deeper connection between people and place.
- Patents
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- Team Members
- Architect: AJAR Ltd.
Landscape Consultant: SLSL
Structural Consultant: KHAL
E&M Consultant: EGIS - Image Credits
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
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