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Condition_Lab is a Design Research Laboratory based within the School of Architecture at CUHK. Established in 2018, our primary focus is to improve people’s lives through design.

The Lab’s research resolves around designing socially responsible architectural prototypes. By working hand-in-hand with local partners on real sites, our aim is to develop projects that foster a better sense of community. The prototype acts as a vessel to generate new knowledge about how people inhabit their environment.

Our philosophy revolves around the paradox embedded into the word “condition”, as a noun it refers to a context, a circumstance, or a situation, while as a verb it implies change - to condition something based on an original state.




Condition_Lab © 2021 School of Architecture,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong 



Condition_Lab is a Design Research Laboratory based within the School of Architecture at CUHK. Established in 2018, our primary focus is to improve people’s lives through design.

The Lab’s research resolves around designing socially responsible architectural prototypes. By working hand-in-hand with local partners on real sites, our aim is to develop projects that foster a better sense of community. The prototype acts as a vessel to generate new knowledge about how people inhabit their environment.



Prof. Peter W. Ferretto

Director


Prof. Peter W. Ferretto

Associate Professor
peter.ferretto@cuhk.edu.hk

Academic Qualifications

BA (Hons) Liverpool University
Dip-Arch Cambridge University


Professional Affiliation

ARB (UK)


Academic Experience

2014-Current
Associate Professor
School of Architecture,
the Chinese University of Hong Kong,
Hong Kong

2009-2014
Associate Professor of Design
Faculty of Architecture,
Seoul National University,
Korea

2007-2009
Unit Master, Undergraduate RIBA Part 1
Architectural Association School of Architecture,
London


Professional Practice

2008-2014
PWFERRETTO, Seoul
Principle

2001-2008
Herzog & de Meuron Architects, Basel, Switzerland
Associate and Project Architect

1997-2001
Eric Parry Architects, London, UK
Senior Architect


Main Research Interests

Architectural Urban Typologies
Taxonomy of Urban Conditions
Seoul Urban Paradigms
Urban Dialects

Residual Urban Spaces
Everyday Urban Conditions
Lost Urban Residual Opportunities
Contemporary Background City

Prototype Design Solutions
Design & Build Projects
Innovative Timber Technologies
Craftsmnaship and Material Knowledge

Chinese Rural Villages
Adapting Rural Villages
Reactivating Rural Social Spaces
Vernacular Timber Architectural Typologies

Sociality Responsible Architecture
Community Engaged Architecture
Self-Build in Rural China
Adaptive Re-use Strategies


Refereed Publications

Journal Papers 
Ferretto, P. W., Cai, L (2019). Village Prototypes: A Survival Strategy for Chinese Minority Rural Villages. The Journal of Architecture –Taylor & Francis, Paper Accpeted – Issue to be deternied. (80%)

Ferretto, P. W. (2016). A Taxonomy of the Real: Seoul. Architecture & Culture Journal -Routledge, 411-423. (100%)

Book Chapters
Ferretto, P. W. (2018). Chasing Ambiguous Conditions of Coexistence. In &. J. J. Nasan, Chasing the City. New York: Routledge. (100%) 

Conference Papers
Choi, S.H.; Ferretto, P. W. (2019). From Local Practice to Urban Tactic: Learning From Hong Kong’s Vernacular Spatial Practice. S.Arch 6th International Conference 2019. Havana, Cuba. (30%)

Luo, J.; Ferretto, P. W. (2019). Lost Urban Conditions of Hong Kong: The Infrastructural spaces of the Mei Foo Housing Estate. Critical Practice in An Age of Complexity, Conference. The University of Arizona, US. (50%)

Ferretto, P. W. (2018). Residual Thinking: Reclaiming Hong Kong’s Lost Urban Spaces. PLEA International Conference 2018. Hong Kong. (100%)

Luo, J.; Ferretto, P. W. (2018). Reinventing Wood: The Body, Materials and their Relationship in Chinese Houses. PLEA International Conference 2018. Hong Kong. (30%)

Ferretto, P. W. (2017). Background City: Inhabited Urban Conditions of Hong Kong. UIA 2017 Seoul World Architects Congress. Seoul.
(100%)

Ferretto, P. W. (2017). Adapting Villages: An Architectural Framework For Regenerating Dong Minority Settlements. S.Arch 4th International Conference 2017. Hong Kong. (100%)

Ferretto, P. W. (2016). Residual Landscapes: Reclaiming Hong Kong’s Lost Urban Spaces. Docomomo 14th International: Adaptive Reuse (pp. 38-44). Lisbon: Docomomo International (100%)

Cai, L., Ferretto, P., & Deng, Y. (2016). A Study of the Timber Structure of Drum Towers of Chinese Dong Minority Architecture. IIWC Conference - Preservation of Historic Timber Structures, (pp. 51-61). Sweden (20%)

Ferretto, P. W. (2015). Cast Space: Subverting the Spatial Paradigm. 5th Interdisciplinary Time, Space, Body. Oxford University. (100%)

Ferretto, P. W. (2015). A Taxonomy of the Real: Seoul. This Thing Called Theory – 12th AHRA International Conference. Leeds Beckett University, UK. (50%)


Non-Refereed Publications

 Journal Papers
Ferretto, P. W. (2019). Glances of Perplexity: A Short Walking Manual to Hong Kong’s Hidden Conditions. Being Hong Kong, Vol.3, 90-100. (100%)

Ferretto, P. W. (2019). In Conversation with: Peter Ferretto. NUS Masters Graduation These Book , 16-19. (100%)

Ferretto, P. W. (2014). Converging Fragments: Seoul. Docomomo Journal, Vol.50, 12-18. (100%)

Ferretto, P. W. (2012). The Mundane Architecture of Rooms. Space – Journal, No.534, 30-36. (100%)

Ferretto, P. W. (2012). Subjective / Objective Space. Space Journal, No.552, 58-66. (100%)

Ferretto, P. W. (2011). Interpreting Fragments. Space – Journal, No.523, 72-84. (100%)

Ferretto, P. W. (2009). Seoul Paradigms. Space – Journal, No.515, 100-112 (100%)

Book Chapters 
Ferretto, P. W. (2016). Here and Now Seoul – Ten Memos for Our Present Millennium. In K. Sung-Hong, The FAR Game- Constraints Sparking Creativity (pp. 130-140). Seoul: Space Books. (100%)

Conference Papers
Ferretto, P. W. (2019). A Prototype Village: Gaobu. Hangzhou CAFA Village Conference. Fujian, China

Ferretto, P. W., & Fitzpatrick, D. (2015). Collaborative Feedback on Architecture Presentations. English Across the Curriculum, Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Hong Kong


Book Authored

Ferretto, P. W. (2015). Place/Seoul. Seoul: Propaganda. (100%)

Ferretto, P. W. (2014). Arc hitect’s Notes. Seoul: G-Colon. (100%)

Ferretto, P. W. (2014). Cast Space. Seoul: Spacetime. (100%)

Ferretto, P. W. (2012). Vertical Museum. Seoul: Spacetime. (100%)

Ferretto, P. W. (2011). Vertical Urbanism. Seoul: Space


Creative Works & Exhibitions

Seoul Architectural and Urbanism Biennale  
Ferretto, P. W. (PI), International Exhibition.
Rethinking China’s Countryside, Sept. 2019

Gaobu Book House
Ferretto, P. W. (PI) and Cai, L (CoI) Design & Build Project.
Primary School Library, Hunan, China, Dec. 2018

DesignInspire Hong Kong  
Ferretto, P. W. (PI), International Exhibition.
Designing with Books, Dec. 2018

16th Venice International Architecture Biennale 
Ferretto, P. W. (PI), International Exhibition.
Tower Conditions, May 2018

Mei Foo Book Tree 
Ferretto, P. W. (PI) Design & Build Project.
Mei Foo Estate, Hong Kong. Temporary Open Public Library, Aug. 2018

Seoul Architectural and Urbanism Biennale  
Ferretto, P. W. (PI), Curator of an International Exhibition.
By-city/By-product – Hong Kong / Shenzhen, Sept. 2017

Condition/Hong Kong   
Ferretto, P. W. (PI), Exhibition Curator.
Hong Kong Urban Conditions, Oil Street Gallery, Hong Kong, Jun. 2016

China in Flux: Mapping The Middle Zone
Ferretto, P. W. (PI), Exhibition Participant.
Urban Background, University of Southern California, Sept. 2015

Contemporary Asian Architecture Practices
Ferretto, P. W. (PI), Exhibition Participant.
Work by PWFERRETTO, University of Melbourne, Mar. 2015

Architectural Projects by PWFERRETTO  
Ferretto, P. W. (PI), Exhibition Curator.
Design Process, at G:Colon Gallery, Seoul, South Korea, May 2014


Research Grants

2019-2021
General Research Fund(GRF)
House Mutations: Prototype Solutions for a Prefabricated Selfbuild Timber House in Rural China.
Project Number 14615819 (1,066,500 HKD)

2017-2019
General Research Fund(GRF)
Adapting Villages: An Architectural Framework for Regenerating Dong Minority Settlements
Project Number 14641516 (1,002,288 HKD)

2016-2018
General Research Fund(GRF)
Urban Pauses: Reclaiming Hong Kong's Residual Urban Spaces Project Number 14611017 (737,000 HKD)

2019-2021
Chinese Studies SEED Grant
The Village Question: Strategies for a Sustainable Development of China's Dong Minority Rural Villages
Project Number 3133219 (200,000 HKD)

2019
Direct Grant, Faculty of Social Science
Rural Prototypes: Redefining a New Material Consciousness for Chinese Hakka Villages
Project Number 4052189 (100,000 HKD)

2019
Institute of Environment Energy & Sustainability 
Adapting Villages: International Workshop on the Future of Rural Villages
Project Number 2120554 (200,000 HKD)

2016
Direct Grant, Faculty of Social Science
Dong Minority Villages: Reactivating Social Public Spaces
Project Number 4052110 (80,000 HKD) 

2012-2014 
University Grant, SNU
Seoul-Scape: Everyday Urban Architectural Typologies of Seoul Project Number SNU_CE_0072 (20,000 USD)

Research MoU

Research MoU with Guangzhou University, China
Three year collaborative project between CUHK, School of Architecture and GZU School of Architecture and Urbanism, looking at:
Rural Chinese Villages, Minority Chinese Architecture,
Urban and Architectural Heritage, Rural Settlement planning
Rural Residential buildings


Honours, Awards, Competition, etc.

Research
World Architecture Community(1st Prize)
Realized Category, Gaobu Book House. July 2019.

Design for Asia Awards 2019(Bronze)
Gaobu Book House, Completed Project

Teaching 
CUHK Masters Thesis Award
Supervision of Best Architectural Thesis Project by Beryl Wong, April 2 Material Authenticity: Searching for the Meaning of Authenticity through Wood in Dong Minority Villages, China

Chinese Architectural Schools Award(2nd Prize)
National Exchange Programme, Design Studio Workshop, March 2017. Reactivating the Dong Minority Village of Gaobu, Hunan Province, China 

CUHK Masters Design Project Award
Honours Review – School of Architecture, M1 Graduate Programme Project: Craft Workshop in Shan Shui Po.
Student Name: Carol Wong.

RIBA Silver Medal Award
Royal Institute of British Architects, December 2016
Best Thesis Project awarded to my Thesis Masters Student Thomas Chee

Joint Design Studio China Award(2nd Prize)
Design Student Teaching Award by National board of Architectural Accreditation, China. June 2016
The Joint International Design Studio in conjunction with Guangzhou University was awarded 2nd Prize for the prestigious 

CUHK Masters Design Project Award
Honours Review – School of Architecture, M1 Graduate Programme Project: Cancer Rehabilitation and Day Care Centre.
Student Name: Chan, Cho Man, Terrence 2016.

CUHK Masters Design Project Award
Honours Review – School of Architecture, M1 Graduate Programme Project: Contemporary Chinese Art Centre in Kung Tong, Hong Kong. Student Name: King Hei Thomas Chee

Exemplary Teaching Awards
College of Engineering, Seoul National University, March 2012

Practice
UIA International Competition(3rd Prize)
Suncheon Cultural Park Architectural Competition, Korea, June 2016

Seun City Walk, International Competition(2nd Prize)
Urban Park Project, Seoul, May 2015

MTR Public Sculpture Competition(3rd Prize)
Public Art Project, December 2014

Sosemun Memorial Park Competition(2nd Prize)
Memorial for Catholic Martyrs. Seoul, August 2014

Gohueng Pottery Museum Competition(1st Prize)
Architecture Design Competition Goheung, June 2013

Busan Opera House Competition(1st Prize)
International Architectural Competition Busan, October 2012