Negotiating Edges. Calibrating Value.
The Practice
Aravia Design Limited (ADL) is a RIBA Chartered Practice that focuses on the relationship between commercial investment and the urban environment. We operate as a proactive partner for our clients, moving beyond the the production and delivery of physical objects to ensure every project functions as a high-performing asset.
Our distinctive expertise lies in the Agency of Strategic Amenities—the spaces that drive foot traffic, user engagement, and long-term value. We navigate the tension between the Required (commercial and functional constraints) and the Possible (untapped potential for resilience and engagement). By identifying spatial interventions that others overlook, we transform private requirements into enduring civic assets that are as commercially resilient as they are socially vibrant.
From winning international competitions against the world’s largest firms to delivering complex institutional hubs, Aravia provides the technical precision and commercial foresight required to turn a brief into a landmark.
Our Methodology
We employ a five-stage framework designed to de-risk development while maximising social and commercial value. This process ensures that every architectural intervention—from a retail precinct to a transit hub—is calibrated for long-term resilience.
High-Stakes Commissions
Aravia is increasingly sought after for projects that require a high degree of institutional trust, technical precision and the management of complex stakeholder requirements:
The Law Society of Hong Kong Headquarters (The Center)
Recently appointed to design the new headquarters within one of Hong Kong’s most prestigious landmarks. Securing a commission of this nature requires a rigorous understanding of professional standards, spatial security, and the specific operational needs of a premier legal body.
The Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA) Headquarters
Winner, in consortium with TCA, of the open competition to revitalise the Institute’s premises. This project successfully balanced institutional identity with a transparent, workshop-oriented environment, setting a new benchmark for professional hubs within dense urban settings.
Vele, Ap Lei Chau
Serving as Lead Design Advisory and Coordination for this upcoming luxury residential development. This role highlights our ability to curate high-end living experiences while managing the diverse web of contractors, consultants and technical standards necessary to deliver a premium residential product in a competitive market.
Lux-Airport Skypark Business Centre (Luxembourg)
An invited international competition finalist alongside firms such as BIG and Snøhetta. This WAFX Award-winning project mediates between airport logistics and a sustainable, hybrid workplace.
Recognition
The Founder
Dr CHAN Ching Kan
With over 15 years of global experience, Dr. CHAN Ching Kan’s career is defined by a synthesis of client-side developer intelligence and institutional trust, evidenced by high-stakes commissions for the Law Society of Hong Kong, HKIA Headquarters, Lux-Air and China Railway Group Limited. A PhD scholar from CUHK, he bridges the gap between commercial asset management and social efficacy.
Dr CHAN Ching Kan is an architect, urban designer, and strategist with over 15 years of experience across Asia, Europe, and Africa. As the Founder and Design Director of Aravia Design Limited, he leads a practice defined by its ability to navigate the complex interface between institutional investment and urban vitality.
Dr Chan’s career is distinguished by a synthesis of roles: designer, developer, and institutional advisor. This “client-side” intelligence—honed during his tenure as Project and Design Director for a private investment group—is further evidenced by his role as Head of Architecture for JLL (Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Korea). This background allows him to bridge the gap between real estate advisory and physical implementation, ensuring every project functions as a high-performing asset.
His track record for securing prestigious, high-stakes commissions is exceptional. Recently, he was appointed to design the new Law Society of Hong Kong Headquarters within The Center, a role requiring the highest levels of institutional trust and spatial sophistication. This follows his competition win for the Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA) Headquarters and his lead design advisory role for Vele, a luxury residential development in Ap Lei Chau.
His global portfolio includes work with premier hoteliers such as Marriott, Sheraton, and Starwood, alongside award-winning infrastructure like the Skypark Business Centre in Luxembourg. His work has been recognised at the World Architecture Festival (WAFX Award) and through multiple invitations to the Venice Biennale.
An active contributor to the global academic and professional community, Dr Chan has served as a lecturer and critic at UCL, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), and Makerere University. He serves on the Grand Jury Panel for the A’ Design Award and various HKSAR Government advisory committees, including the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau. Educated at HKU (First Class Honours) and The Bartlett (UCL), he holds a PhD in Architecture from CUHK. His academic work was nominated for the RIBA President’s Medal, and his doctoral research into the integration of public amenities continues to inform Aravia’s methodology.
Our Journey
Our Journey
Aravia Design was established
2015
Various SMEs finesse and branding in HKSAR and China
2016
Commercial consultant to CRCC after winning TOD project in Jinan, CN
2017
Venice Biennale; TOD projects in Bangkok; Luxembourg airport
against BIG and Snøhetta
against BIG and Snøhetta
2018
WAF Winner in Amsterdam IDA Winners Architectural Review Long-listed
2019
5 Construction in China; completed 7 masterplanning projects; completed 17 world-wide recognised awards in 5 years;
20 research projects completed; 30 interior projects completed
20 research projects completed; 30 interior projects completed
2021 to Now
Beyond Projects: Evolving Dialogue
Architecture is never a static act. It is a continuous, evolving conversation between research, policy, and practice. Here, we track the ideas and engagements that inform our studio’s unique approach to urban life.
Ideas & Discourse
Ideas & Discourse
Engagement & Recognition