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Uncle Ming's

A Work of Substance

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Uncle Ming's - Dennis Lo, Nichol Mak
Uncle Ming's - Dennis Lo, Nichol Mak
Uncle Ming's - Dennis Lo, Nichol Mak
Uncle Ming's - Dennis Lo, Nichol Mak

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Comments
Innovation
Functionality
Creativity
Eco-Social Impact
Total
JURY VOTES
Bar
6.27
6.92
6.75
5.57
6.38
Giovanni Zaccariello
Giovanni Zaccariello SVP Global Visual Experience  at Coach
6
6
6
6
6
Anne-Rachel Schiffmann
Anne-Rachel Schiffmann Director of Interior Architecture at Snøhetta
7
7
6.5
6
6.63
Nicolas Delefosse
Nicolas Delefosse Founder and Creative Director at NDDO
5
6
6
5
5.5
Dennis Vlietinck
Dennis Vlietinck Head of Design at Wink
6
6.5
6
6
6.13
Gilbert Khalil
Gilbert Khalil Director of Design and Technical Services at Sunset Hospitality Group
6
7
7
6
6.5
Farid Ziani
Farid Ziani Partner Architect Designer at KTX archiLAB
6.5
7.5
6.5
5.5
6.5
Sontaya Bluangtook
Sontaya Bluangtook Associate Design Director at UNStudio
6
6
6
6
6
Asif Din
Asif Din Sustainability Director at Perkins&Will
6
7
6
5
6
Deepak Jawahar
Deepak Jawahar Cofounder at The Architecture Story
7
7.5
8
6
7.13
Cathy Figueiredo
Cathy Figueiredo Cofounder at Wanna
5
7
7
5
6
Lisa Adams
Lisa Adams Director of CitizenHKS & Sustainable Design Leader at HKS
6.75
6.5
7.5
5
6.44
Klein Dai
Klein Dai CEO at Algebraist Brand Management
7
6
6
6
6.25
Jocelyne Sacre
Jocelyne Sacre Design Strategist at Consultant
Everything an upscale whiskey bar s...
7
8
8
5
7
Baoyu Tian
Baoyu Tian General Manager at Foshan Shengtianjia Lighting Equipment
6
6.5
6
5.5
6
Liqun Lin
Liqun Lin Executive Director at Xiamen Wenqu Decoration Design
7
7
7
6
6.75
Bangsheng Yang
Bangsheng Yang Founder at Yang & Associates Group
6.31
7.1
6.22
5.65
6.32
Dirk Osinga
Dirk Osinga Founder at STUDIOSINGA
6
9
9
5
7.25
Client
Aki Hong Kong – Mgallery
Floor area
129 ㎡
Completion
2022
Budget
P&C
Social Media
Instagram Facebook Linkedin
Walls Finishes
Walls Finishes & Joinery
Lighting

Client envisioned a mysterious and intimate space housing a private collection of rare vintage spirits, whilst still being a coherent extension of AKI Hong Kong – Mgallery hotel. The space hosts a one of a kind collection of vintage Japanese whiskeys, adding a touch of warmth to the layered design that progressively unfolds towards the open view of Hong Kong’s iconic cityscape. Uncle Ming’s identity as both an organic spatial component of AKI Hong Kong – Mgallery hotel and, at the same time, a standalone feature able to provide a contrasting experience is ensured by a layered design that resonates with the intensity of the surrounding exteriors in a warm, intimate way and, yet, profoundly engaging in a continued dialogue with the city.

Steeped in the spirit of the city, Uncle Ming’s initiates a conversation with the outside architecture through a geometric language lying at the core of Hong Kong’s spectacular cityscape. Like a house of light suspended in the sky, Uncle Ming’s guides visitors towards its trove of fine whiskies, taking guests on a journey of discovery as they unbox the treasures within. Defined by simple, rectilinear shapes and realised through soulful materials, the den unfolds as an enigmatic cubic volume. Light is refracted by rippled glass, detailing the walls with shadows and slow, orderly movements that exalt into a quiet allure. The blurred boundaries between exteriors and interiors are emphasised by full-height windows revealing the sharp juxtaposition between Wan Chai’s neon lights and the subdued glow of the built environment. Custom colored textured glasswork and timber joinery between the architecture frame the views and the internal space; amber shades, oak timbers, and glass bricks, all shape a visual compensation with the contrasting brightness of the outside.

The sense of progressive surprise and discovery enhances patrons’ experience: layered design infused with entwined lights and shadows guide diners to gradually unfold the interior space and Hong Kong’s compact skyscrapers. Nestled right within the city’s pulsing heart, Uncle Ming’s unfurls as a mysterious space that transcends the present space and time into a suspended, parallel dimension.