M+ Hong Kong to Host Herzog & de Meuron China Projects Exhibition

M+ to Showcase Two Decades of Work

M+ Museum in Hong Kong will open "Herzog & de Meuron: In Focus" on September 12, 2026. The exhibition will run until January 2027 at the M+ Focus Gallery. It reviews ten projects by Herzog & de Meuron in China, covering work from 2002 to 2021. These projects include both built and unbuilt designs.

The exhibition highlights the firm's architectural contributions to China's urban development over two decades. M+, located in the West Kowloon Cultural District, marks its fifth anniversary with this exhibition. Herzog & de Meuron designed the M+ museum building itself between 2012 and 2021.

Over 200 Process Materials Donated

The exhibition features more than 200 process materials donated by Herzog & de Meuron to the M+ Collections. These materials comprise models, prototypes, sketches, and archival items. Specific projects covered include Tai Kwun in Hong Kong (2006–2018) and the National Stadium in Beijing (2002–2008), known as the 'Bird's Nest'.

This donation represents the second phase of the firm's contributions to M+, building on an initial gift in 2023 of a section model of the Beijing National Stadium. The collection shows the firm's sustained involvement in significant cultural and civic projects across China, such as museums, academic institutions, sports stadiums, and city master plans.

Display Inspired by Basel Archives

The display uses wooden vitrines, designed for Herzog & de Meuron's archival holdings in Basel, Switzerland. This approach draws inspiration from the firm's Kabinett, a foundation established in 2015 by Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron to serve as a permanent repository for architectural knowledge and research.

The exhibition aims to provide a detailed view of each project's response to its site, selected materials, and cultural context. Ikko Yokoyama, Senior Curator and Head of Design and Architecture at M+, stated that the exhibition allows exploration of the experimentation and decision-making behind each work, from initial concepts to final built form.

Implications for Asian Design and Procurement

For architects, designers, and procurement professionals working on projects in Asia, this exhibition offers direct insight into the design processes and material considerations of a major architectural firm.

Examining the models, material samples, and prototypes from projects like Tai Kwun and the National Stadium can inform future specification choices and design strategies for large-scale cultural and civic developments in the region.

The focus on how Herzog & de Meuron addressed specific site and cultural contexts across China provides a practical reference for adapting international design practices to Asian environments and material supply chains.