Craft and Monument
“One can say that the city itself is the collective memory of its people, and like memory it is associated with objects and places. The city is the locus of the collective memory. This relationship between the locus and the citizenry then becomes the city’s predominant image, both of architecture and of landscape, and as certain artifacts become part of its memory, new ones emerge”, Aldo Rossi.
Photo: Kevin Mak.
Neri&Hu’s design for Piaget’s new storefront on Canton Road draws on the wealth of historic architecture in Kowloon, channeling the innate respect for craftsmanship integral to the watchmaking heritage. Bespoke ceramic tiles glazed in nuanced shades of blue lend the store its architectural presence, complemented by an array of customized metals and concrete – all woven together like an exquisite instrument. The project celebrates the storefront as a jeweled urban monument and repurposes the commercial façade to bring a new monumental presence and civic potency.
Photo: Kevin Mak.
Neri&Hu approached the project with a desire to respond not only to Piaget’s dedication to craftsmanship and innovation in the field of chorography, but also to the site location itself. Situated in the historic wharf area of Kowloon, this district possesses a set of unique qualities. Energized by the canton railway, which once linked to the mainland, it is a vibrant hub for trade and culture, and this dynamic exchange is reflected in the material selections. The metal-work makes reference to the site’s industrial past, while the ceramic tiles are sourced from Jingdezhen, a place that has been producing porcelain for over 1,000 years. Aldo Rossi explained in his seminal work “The Architecture of the City” how memory attaches itself to spatial structures within the built environment. Through time these structures are replaced by modern artifacts which re-write upon the canvas of the city, and thus new artifacts become part of the collective memory of the city.
Photo: Kevin Mak.
In many ways Canton Road is still synonymous with luxury retail in Hong Kong; over decades, however, with a constant rotation of tenants and their endless competition for attention, it has become increasingly difficult to filter through the chaos. Neri&Hu introduces a calm and elegant presence to the storefront condition through the use of authentic crafted materials, whose natural qualities are highlighted by their placement and detailing. Custom-shaped handmade ceramic tiles, glazed in nuanced shades of deep blue, are framed in bronze. The combination of materials woven together in refined detail injects Piaget’s DNA into its new home on Canton Road. Much like civic monuments of ancient times, this approach reinforces the notion of architecture as a cultural symbol for the city and a mirror to our shared heritage and values.
Façade Plan.
Piaget伯爵香港旗舰店
匠
“你或许可以说，城市是居民的集体记忆，而记忆却是与物件和地点息息相关。城市是集体记忆的集合。集体记忆与城市集体相互作用，形成了城市的建筑与景观外貌。而随着越来越多新的人工建造加入这份记忆，城市也逐渐展现新貌。”
– 阿尔多·罗西
Photo: Kevin Mak.
如恩为Piaget伯爵在香港广东道的新旗舰店进行了立面设计。该项目从九龙区深厚悠久的历史建筑背景中汲取精华，传递了Piaget伯爵对制表工艺的尊重与匠心追求。特别设计的釉面瓷砖之间晕染开的静谧蓝色，定制的金属和混凝土穿插其中，为立面增添了建筑感。材质间交织呼应，如同一件精致的乐器。这座点缀了宝石般的城市纪念物，不仅实现了商业功能，更为居民带来了更多对城市纪念意义的期许。
Photo: Kevin Mak.
该项目不仅希望传递Piaget伯爵对制表工艺的传承与创新追求，更希望响应九龙码头区的历史定位。这里曾连通九广铁路至大陆，是贸易和文化交流的中心枢纽。铜质材料的运用暗示了这片土地的工业历史；而从景德镇手工生产的瓷砖，则如同景德镇悠久的文化与手工业历史一般，映射了这个文化交流枢纽的背景，也体现了品牌对工艺传统的传承。阿尔多·罗西（Aldo Rossi）在他的开创性著作《城市建筑学》（The Architecture of the City）中解释了记忆是如何附着于建造环境中的空间结构。随着时间的推移，部分原有结构逐渐被现代化的建造所取代，并重绘了城市的画布，而新建造物也逐渐成为城市集体记忆的一部分。
Photo: Kevin Mak.
在很大程度上，广东道仍然是香港奢侈品零售的代名词。然而，随着品牌的不断更替及行业竞争，这里变得愈发嘈杂与浮躁。如恩使用纯手工悉心打磨的立面材料，凸显了材质本身的天然属性，为这条街道注入了一股平静与优雅之力。定制的手工陶瓷瓷砖，以精心挑选的深蓝色上釉，镶嵌在铜质框架中。细节精美的材料交织在一起，将Piaget伯爵的品牌DNA注入其在广东道上的新居所中。正如古时的市政纪念碑，该项目通过类似的方法强化了建筑最初的概念——城市文化、人类文明共同遗产与价值的象征。
Sketch by Lyndon Neri.
