Name of project ZHUuGROUND14 Duration and location May 17 – 19, 2014 City University of Hong Kong Abstract Organization ZHUuGROUND14 was organized in collaboration between the City University of Hong Kong Division of Building Science and Technology (CityU BST) and the Research Institute for Experimental Architecture (RIEA.ch) ZHUuGROUND14 was funded by the Teaching Start-Up Grant Faculty Per-Johan Dahl (Hong Kong) Assistant Professor at City University of Hong Kong, Division of Building Science and Technology; RIEA Board Member; Co-founder of smog studio HB/LLC. Guy Lafranchi (Switzerland) RIEA Director; Professor of Architecture and Head of the Design Department Bachelor of Arts in Architecture, University of Applied Sciences, Bern; Principal of GLAD Ltd. The ground is not only a surface on which buildings are erected, but, more importantly, an intellectual construct that instigates a datum for spatial perception and navigation. While the ground provides an important point of reference for the development of building and cities, it also hampers our ability to explore space construction principles beyond formalized routines and criteria. The international workshop ZHUuGROUND14 takes the ground as object of study to critically evaluate the structural logic of measuring and maintaining orientation in space. To engage in such exercise, an architectural element is needed feasible to be utilized for reconceptualizing the relationship between over- and underground. One such architectural element is the retaining wall. Encompassing a structure designed and constructed to resist the lateral pressure of soil when there is a desired change in ground elevation, the retaining wall is an architectural mediator between over- and underground. Solely processing the loads of soil, the concept of retaining wall most often fails to encapsulate a higher complexity in form and content arrangement. Learning objectives: Donatella Cusmá (USA) RIEA Board Member; Adjunct Faculty at Woodbury School of Architecture at Woodbury University, Los Angeles; Principal of Claret-Cup. Explore space making through large scale modeling. Caroline Dahl (Sweden) Head of FUSE at the Swedish University of Agricultural Science Department of Landscape Architecture, Planning, and Management; Principal of smog studio HB/LLC. Experience interaction between individuality and community through design. Visiting Professional: Mak Chiu Leung Donald (Hong Kong) Scaffolding specialist at Wing Lee Scaffolding Company Limited. Engage in an exploratory, open ended creative design and construction process. Render vertical collaboration among all four years of the Architecture Programme, including collaboration with Ph.D. students. Workshop Assistance by Feiyu Qi, Geoff Chan, and Karen Law. Participating Students Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Ph.D. – Wong Nga Yan – Kong Kwai Yee, Clark – Fung Ho Lam Zita – Lam Hiu Hei – Wong Tsz Ching – Ben Au Chi Lai – Lam Kwok Ting – Ng Cheuk Hin – Kwok Shing Yan, Sky – Ng Puiman – Chau Yan Cho – Chen Huifen – Lau Nga Fong – Chan Wing Chun – Ko Chau Ki Jacqueline – Wong Kayi Ankina – Ahamed Junaid Ibrahim – Carol Ng Ka-Lam – Lam Pui Yeung, Javee – She Pak Lim – Wu Mei Yee – Au Yeung Hiu Yan – Chun Ho Kin – Tsang Ho Yin – Lee Yuen Ning – Cheng Ka Lok – Celia, Mok Ka Sui – Yip Ka Nang – Tsang Cheuk HO – Kai Ching Man – Andrew Hung – Lam Chun Pong – Jeff Tse – Hui On Yu – Leung Choi Ling – Ben Chan – Zang Peng Post Dr. – Ding Guanghui