CityU students study contemporary architecture in Europe and Japan

A Study Tour Exhibition 2006 was held between 7-9 September by the Division of Building Science and Technology (BST) of City University of Hong Kong (CityU), to showcase students’ learning experience in a study tour to Europe and Japan in June.

Forty year-two BST students, all in the associate degree programme of Science in Architectural Studies, visited Austria and Italy, as well as Kyoto, Osaka and Nara in Japan from 7-20 June, to observe and analyze the architectural characteristics of classical and modern buildings in these countries.

There were over a thousand photos and posters on display at the exhibition, showing the architectural designs and structures of different buildings, including the Suntory Museum in Osaka; the Gasometer in Vienna, a residence building remodeled from a disposed oil depot; and the Kunsthaus, a modern art gallery in Austria.

Mr Derek Yuen Wai-lun, Senior Lecturer in BST, expressed that the study tour reflected CityU’s commitment in broadening students’ horizon by organizing different types of

extra-curricular activities and providing them with a diverse study experience. The objective of the tour was to boost students’ interest in and appreciation of architectural designs by visiting these buildings.

According to Mr Yuen, BST organizes overseas study tours every year, aiming to help students step out of Hong Kong and visit famous buildings in different countries. These study tours will not only deepen students’ understanding of contemporary architecture in Europe and Japan, but also provide the students with an opportunity to communicate with people from various countries in a different cultural environment.

“The students organized the whole tour themselves, from collecting information to scheduling the itinerary,” Mr Yuen said, “The coordination process facilitated students’ holistic personal growth.”

The students felt they benefited a lot from this tour when they could study the architectural designs and structures of all kinds of buildings overseas and experience the actual sense of space. Ivan Kwan Kay-shun, a year-two participant in the programme,

said that he observed all kinds of unique buildings in the streets which increased his understanding of the building materials and architectural designs in Japan.

“Few buildings in Hong Kong were built of fair-faced concrete, but I saw some in Japan during the trip.” Ivan said, “What impressed me most was the Miho Museum in Kyoto, which was built on a high mountain. Located at the end of a long road through the woods, it is wholly integrated into nature. What I saw will provide me with inspirations when I design in the future.”

The opening ceremony of the study tour exhibition was held on 7 September. Officiating guests included Professor Richard Ho Yan-ki, Vice-President (Undergraduate Education); Professor Lilian Vrijmoed, Dean of Student Learning; and Professor Sritawat Kitipornchai, Head of the Department of Building and Construction.