Dezeen Magazine

André Fu creates "modern Asian" installation for COS presentation in Hong Kong

Hong Kong designer André Fu has installed glass cubes and a miniature zen garden on one of the city's piers to create a presentation space for fashion brand COS.

Fu's studio AFSO designed the installation for the brand's first presentation in seven years, which took place on the upper level of Hong Kong's Central Ferry Pier 4 last night.

"I was invited by COS to create a special installation to embrace where the brand sits within the context of modern Asia," Fu told Dezeen.

The two-storey pier's lower deck still functions as a terminal for ferry passengers travelling to nearby Lamma Island, while the empty upper level is now used for events.

Urban Landscape by Andre Fu for COS

Fu and his team took over the space to create the COS Urban Landscape, transforming the long narrow floor plan into a series of smaller rooms.

"It's conceived as a journey," said Fu. "Guests can walk through various parts of the installation, which will be scattered throughout different parts of the pier itself."

On arrival, visitors entered the Cube – a glass structure supported by a white metal frame that actually measured three metres wide and four metres high.

Positioned within a grey-painted vestibule, a green bridge passed through the centre with the glass sections on either side.

The next area took advantage of the pier's large windows, where visitors descended a series of ramps set within a flight of white steps edged with grass.

Sheets of tinted vertical glass stood on each step beside the first portion of ramp, after which an alternative route was provided by an L-shaped bridge between clear glass walls.

Urban Landscape by Andre Fu for COS

Another enclosed space followed next, with surfaces painted a similar dark grey colour as the first vestibule.

"The key colour that we have in the entire installation is a cool grey," said Fu. "We have also imposed two other shades of grey, so all together there is a lighter and a darker shade as you go along."

Moss-covered spheres placed on a bed of white pebbles occupied a circular depression in the floor, which Fu described as his interpretation of a zen garden – the traditional Japanese rock garden.

The final space at the end of the pier was used for the presentation of COS' latest collection. Models wearing the brand's garments walked through a pair of cubes – one transparent and one mirrored – against the backdrop of the Victoria Harbour lights.

"The installation is about embracing the modern Asian spirit, within which the presentation takes place," said Fu.

It took more than 40 people over 45 days to install the structural and decorative elements, which were fabricated off-site, assembled and tested before being brought to the venue.

COS had previously chosen not to show its collections in catwalk presentations since its early shows after its 2007 launch.

Urban Landscape by Andre Fu for COS

During an exclusive interview with Dezeen, managing director Marie Honda said that the brand preferred to share its new ranges directly with customers via the website and a print magazine.

Breaking from tradition with this event, COS chose Hong Kong over international fashion hubs London, Paris, Milan and New York to present its collection and local designer Fu to create the installation.

"André Fu is internationally renowned for his inspiring spaces and keen attention to detail," said Honda in a recent statement. "He was an obvious choice to collaborate with in Asia."

Among COS's other collaborators is Japanese studio Nendo, which create an installation based on the brand's signature white shirt in Milan last year.