International Culinary Institute

The International Culinary Institute (ICI) is the latest addition to the Hong Kong Vocational Training Council (VTC) Pokfulam campus, making it a hub for hospitality training. As the first of its kind in Asia, the new campus will offer training programmes and facilities to students covering European, Mediterranean, American, Asian and Middle Eastern cuisines. L&O acted as the Architect and Interior Designer for this world-class facility. The new campus houses a comprehensive array of facilities including training kitchens, multi-tiered demonstration kitchens for international competitions and broadcasting, MICE training restaurants, food-related laboratories, themed culinary gardens, as well as a wine cellar. The new campus is inspired by the shape of a SALT CRYSTAL - a basic but magical ingredient that preserves food and brings out tantalising flavours across all cuisines – with the design making use of the multifaceted forms, angular planes and juxtaposing lines characteristic of this crystalline mineral. Surrounded by various heritage buildings in Pokfulam, the building is specially designed to harmonise with its environment.