Prof. BENE, B. Christopher
Adjunct Associate Professor
Postgraduate Architectural Studies (Princeton)
MArch (Virginia)
BA (Brown)
Reg Arch (NY) NCARB
Introduction
After receiving his MArch degree, B Christopher Bene worked with Michael Graves, where he and his team received two awards from Progressive Architecture (US). He also assisted Graves with the creation of a series of three-dimensional collages.
In New York, he worked with Richard Meier & Partners where he helped design the Taubman House in Palm Beach, Florida and the Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Connecticut, which received the AIA National Honor Award.
At Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, he worked with Gordon Bunshaft to design the National Commercial Bank Tower in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, which received the AIA National Honor Award. The Tower incorporates two important energy-saving features found in traditional Islamic architecture: natural ventilation and inward orientation. The design drawings are in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
With Shirley Chang, he founded CHANG BENE DESIGN LTD ARCHITECTS/INTERIOR DESIGNERS in Hong Kong and New York, which has received numerous awards for its work, including two Business Week/Architectural Record China Awards, and an AIA/HK Merit Award.
His firm’s projects include a Nike Flagship Shop, Hong Kong (one of three Nike commissioned worldwide), featured in Architectural Record (US) online; the Indoor-Outdoor House, HK and the Two to One House, Shanghai, both published in Architectural Digest (US); and a project to renovate the Palace of Nationalities near Tianamen Square, Beijing.
He is a registered architect in the USA. He has taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the University of Hong Kong.
Research Interests
Architectural Design and Practice
Publications
Apartment renovation, Repulse Bay in Home Journal (HK) January 2015*
Nike Flagship Shop, Hong Kong, in Architectural Record (US) online, 2008*
Two to One House, Shanghai in Architectural Digest (US) February 2007*
Indoor-Outdoor House, Hong Kong in Architectural Digest (US) October 2006*
Maxima Shop, Chicago in Progressive Architecture (US) September 1989
*as Principal of Chang Bene Design Ltd
Honours and Recognitions
Business Week/Architectural Record China Award 2008, for Indoor-Outdoor House, Hong Kong*
Business Week/Architectural Record China Award 2006, for Two to One House, Shanghai*
Certificate of Excellence, Hong Kong Designers Association 2002, for B/G basic gear Shops, Hong Kong*
Certificate of Excellence, Hong Kong Designers Association 2002, for BDA Office, Beijing*
Merit Award, American Institute of Architects Hong Kong Chapter 1998, for Ling Liang Church Kindergarten, Hong Kong*
Citation, Progressive Architecture, for Graves Warehouse Renovation, as Designer for Michael Graves Architect 1978
Award, Progressive Architecture, for Crooks House, as Designer for Michael Graves Architect 1977
*as Principal of Chang Bene Design Ltd.