Trust building

The Rykadan building offers 420 square meter floor plates that can accommodate between 20 to 30 people, with some units for sale. "It is not huge," Cheng admits. "It is designed to house one company per floor with some staff members working outside the office. The new culture of work is that companies don't need 100 people to be in the same space. Like retail, spaces are flexible. Coworking allows for the blurring of work boundaries and office hours."

Two of Hong Kong's most popular shopping malls, Langham Place in Mong Kok and MegaBox in Kowloon Bay, were designed by Jerde and customized to reflect their respective neighborhoods and market desires. "People are affected by spaces," Cheng says. "We remember Langham Place because it takes its DNA from the area. The long escalators in a vertical mall resulted from the idea of Mong Kok's walking streets. 'The Spiral' with its many tiny shops reflects these streets' DNA and elicits emotion through unique spaces."