The "treasure box" New Guangdong Museum design was chosen from a list of 39 international entries

Hong Kong architect Rocco Yim has won an international competition, beating off a Pritzker prize winner in the process, to build the HK$400 million (US$52 million) New Guangdong Museum in southern China. His winning design is based on the Chinese "treasure box" concept  
 
It is the first time a Hong Kong architect has won a contract for a major mainland public facility. Mr Yim said he thought his chances were "quite slim" initially as most of the big cultural projects on the mainland were won by European and American firms with experience.
 
French architect Jean-Marie Charpentier designed the 2,000-seat Shanghai Opera House while another Frenchman Paul Andreau won the design competition for the National Theatre in Beijing. The Olympic Stadium contract went to Swiss-based duo Jacques Herzog and Pierre Meuron.
 

Architect Rocco Yim hopes his winning design will widen the horizon for other Hong Kong talents on the mainland

Mr Yim said: "It's very satisfying and encouraging that I've managed to beat out competition from around the world and most of them are very big names too. The ten short-listed candidates out of 39 included a Pritzker Prize winner and they came from Austria, Britain, Netherlands, Japan, the US, Hong Kong and the mainland itself." 

He added that Hong Kong has many design talents and the cosmopolitan nature of the city lends well to an east and west blend. "There is access to information and exposure.  Hong Kong's proximity to the mainland also gives us an edge as the mainland is coming up with buildings of higher quality and we're the lucky few who have been given the opportunities to contribute to the mainland's architectural growth."    
 
Describing his "treasure box" concept, Mr Yim said: "The box is as precious as the treasures to be exhibited in it and will be just as valuable." According to the judges, Mr Yim's design was picked because "he masters the characteristics of Chinese culture and blends it well with modernity."

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