Asia Art Archive (AAA) is a non-profit art organization in Hong Kong. After operating for 20 years in its original site, AAA needs a new design to host its expanded public program as well as to accommodate 5 to10 years of archival growth. With more public programs, the new home of AAA reaches out not only to art professionals but also people from all walks of life. While the archive is a familiar place for academics, its conventional image–a white, cold space with grey archival cabinets lit by fluorescent lights– can be intimidating for those outside of the art profession. The new home embraces an open, flexible plan with a warm material palette to make the space welcoming for everyone. The shelving system creates a sense of transparency and lightness while storing over 48,000 records.

The design reconfigured the site’s spatial arrangement and increased the event space by 60% and the collection space by 63%. The space is lined with a wooden shelving system that extends all the way from the interior to the window. With built-in cables and light sources, the shelving system can also display exhibitions. The center is an open space for users, who can reconfigure the space to suit their own needs, be it reading, seminars, or events.

The design is among the first in Hong Kong to use natural cork flooring. Harvested from the bark of the Cork Oak Tree, cork is an environmentally friendly material that will decompose at the end of its life cycle. Linoleum flooring made from 97% natural raw materials along with 40% recycled content is also used extensively in the lounge area.