Hong Kong 2024, SAR, China
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Hong Kong’s architecture and urban design are remarkable for their intense urban density, bold verticality, and seamless blending of past, present, and future. The city’s urban fabric reflects both pragmatic adaptation to its constrained geography and a unique cultural layering of East and West.
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M+ Museum in the West Kowloon Cultural District, designed by Herzog & de Meuron, stands as Asia’s first global museum of contemporary visual culture. Its monolithic horizontal form contrasts the surrounding vertical skyline, while its LED facade turns the building itself into a digital canvas, redefining the museum’s role in the urban realm. The Xiqu Centre, by Revery Architecture and Ronald Lu & Partners, elevates traditional Chinese opera into a contemporary setting. Its flowing, lantern-like facade symbolizes cultural continuity while creating a porous urban interface that invites public engagement. IFC (International Finance Centre) exemplifies Hong Kong’s financial ambition and vertical skyline. Designed by César Pelli, the tower’s elegant tapering profile serves both symbolic and climatic purposes, anchoring Central’s skyline while connecting directly to transit infrastructure—an example of hyper-efficient urbanism. The Henderson, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, pushes the boundaries of form with biomorphic curves and structural innovation. Its organic geometry contrasts with the rigid grid of Central, reflecting a shift toward futuristic, expressive skyscrapers in Hong Kong’s commercial core. Tai Kwun, the former Central Police Station compound, is a model of adaptive reuse. Herzog & de Meuron’s sensitive restoration and contemporary interventions transformed this colonial-era complex into a vibrant cultural hub, blending history with modern placemaking. The Avenue of the Stars and Kowloon waterfront promenade, redesigned by James Corner Field Operations, represents a shift towards human-centered, accessible public spaces. The waterfront creates an immersive, walkable experience, framing iconic views of the skyline while celebrating local film heritage. Collectively, these projects highlight Hong Kong’s evolving architectural identity—where cutting-edge design, heritage conservation, and public space renewal coexist within one of the world’s most dynamic urban landscapes. Chapters 1 - Kowloon by Day (1/7 - 51 images) 2 - M + (2/7 - 93 images) 3 - From Central to Quarry Bay (3/7 - 64 images) 4 - IFC (4/7 - 69 images) 5 - Mei Foo (5/7 - 33 images) 6 - TKO & Quarry Bay (6/7 - 50 images) 7 - Kowloon by Night (7/7 - 63 images) Photography: Terence Lee Related Link(s): Project Locations |
