A collection of abstract architectural models made from various materials, arranged in four rows on a white surface.

September 10, 2026

Words: Georgina McWhirter

Herzog & de Meuron’s Hong Kong Legacy Takes Center Stage

Earlier this month, “Herzog & de Meuron: In Focus” opened to great fanfare at M+, Hong Kong’s museum of contemporary visual culture, in celebration of the Herzog & de Meuron–designed venue’s fifth anniversary. To mark the occasion, the Swiss architecture firm, established in 1978 by founding partners Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron, donated more than 200 process materials, including models, prototypes, and sketches, all of which will become part of the permanent M+ Collections. The exhibit traces the Pritzker Architecture Prize–winning studio’s work through 10 key projects in China, among them the 2021 upside-down T-shaped tower of M+, its podium clad in green-gray glazed ceramic tiles, and the hurly-whirliness of the National Stadium in Beijing, aka the Bird’s Nest, built for the 2008 Olympic Games. “As a cultural landmark in Asia that brings architectural discourse to the fore, M+ holds a special place in our practice,” Herzog states, “and this exhibition allows us to share the thinking behind some of our most important work in this country.” As for how it’s all displayed, the objects are placed on replicas of the wooden shelving units at Kabinett, Herzog & de Meuron’s foundation and archive in Basel. herzogdemeuron.com; mplus.org

Milestones 5 years: M+

  • A collection of abstract architectural models made from various materials, arranged in four rows on a white surface.
    Study models and process materials for projects by Herzog & de Meuron are part of “Herzog & de Meuron: In Focus,” on view at the M+, the 5-year-old Hong Kong museum the firm designed, until January. Photography by Lok Cheng © Herzog & De Meuron/courtesy of M+, Hong Kong.
  • Sketch of vertical gray lines and seven horizontal red lines, labeled “pine cable” and “slabs” in red, with “earth nature” written at the bottom in pencil.
    Jacques Herzog’s concept sketch for the M+. Photography by © Jacques Herzog Und Pierre De Meuron Kabinett, Basel/courtesy of M+, Hong Kong.
  • Two large red hexagonal sculptures with circular holes are stacked outdoors on a wooden deck, with green plants and modern buildings in the background.
    Isamu Noguchi’s circa 1965 Octetra outside the entry. Photography by Lok Cheng/m+, Hong Kong.
  • Spacious modern interior with concrete walls, open walkways, high ceilings, large windows, and banners; a person walks near round tables on the ground floor.
    The interior’s main hall. Photography by Kevin Mak/courtesy of Herzog & De Meuron.
  • A modern building with a distinctive angled black facade stands on a grassy lawn, surrounded by city skyscrapers at dusk.
    The unique inverted-T profile. Photography by Iwan Baan © Herzog & De Meuron/courtesy of M+, Hong Kong.
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