Faced with spatial constraints and challenging terrain, a Hong Kong architect has reimagined museum design by embracing the landscape rather than resisting it.
The Chinese University of Hong Kong Art Museum, located at the heart of CUHK’s main campus, recently unveiled an expansion to its Lo Kwee Seong Pavilion. Designed by acclaimed local architect Rocco Yim Sen-kee, the new wing integrates seamlessly with the hillside, demonstrating a harmonious balance of form, function, and environment.
Originally opened in 1971, the museum is dedicated to promoting Chinese culture through exhibitions and outreach. In an interview with The Standard, Yim discussed the unique design strategy behind the expansion, which officially opened late last month.
One of the project’s greatest challenges, Yim explained, was building on a steep, limited plot while ensuring a smooth connection to the existing structure without disrupting the natural landscape or campus atmosphere. His solution: “We float it.”
The result is a striking, fair-faced concrete structure that appears to levitate beside the hillside, nestled among trees. The building is supported by a distinctive V-shaped cantilever, beneath which lies a sunlit atrium featuring a café, communal seating, and a staircase that links vital pedestrian routes on campus. These features allow the museum to become not only an art venue but also a vibrant connector of student and faculty life.
“Architecture is the art of solving problems,” said Yim. “Whether it’s commercial, residential, or cultural, what matters is identifying the issues, analyzing them thoughtfully, and addressing them with creativity and care.”
Josh Yiu Chun-chong, director of the CUHK Art Museum, likened the design ethos to that of the Miho Museum in Kyoto, which is celebrated for its architectural harmony with nature. He emphasized that the new space, with 1,770 square meters of usable area and a gallery ceiling reaching 4.5 meters, enhances both the museum’s exhibition capabilities and its function as a campus thoroughfare.
“As a university museum, our mission is to extend higher education to the public,” Yiu said, noting that the museum intentionally curates exhibitions that challenge audiences rather than merely reflect popular preferences.
The museum’s current exhibition, Transcending Transience, embodies this philosophy. Showcasing 193 objects from the museum’s own collection, the Shanghai Museum, and other notable local and international sources, the exhibit explores the richness of life in Jiangnan during the late Ming dynasty.
With its innovative design and cultural vision, the new pavilion positions CUHK’s Art Museum as both a contemplative space for art and an integral part of everyday campus life.
