Through investigations into local crafts, the project is a Timber Institute that merges traditional knowledge with modern, digital techniques into a new vernacular tailored to Hong Kong’s unique cultural context. This includes Dowel-Laminated Timber (DLT) derived from ancient interlocking joints; vessel-like roofs inspired by the local shipbuilding; and tower structures that fuse natural logs with composite wood, similar to a Pagoda. The project attempts to rethink how lost traditions in timber can be re-membered into Hong Kong’s contemporary architecture.

The Timber Institute is sited in Yum O Bay, Lantau Island, West of the city. The area used to house wood ponds for imported logs. As the demand for timber diminished, its floating factories struggled to survive. Aiming to re-introduce timber into the city, the building will function as an institute for researching new techniques in timber and the manufacturing of building parts. The structure is constructed through a unique combination of prefabricated elements and self-producing workshops. The Institute will ultimately act as a testbed to challenge the city’s outdated building codes, re-inventing a new vernacular for Hong Kong.