The theme of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo is “Better City, Better Life”, and the special theme for the Hong Kong Pavilion is “Hong Kong – a city with unlimited potential“. A concept design competition was held in 2008 and received some 80+ submissions. Ida & Billy’s submission was awarded the Frist Prize, and formed the basis for the final design and execution by the government and another architectural firm.
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Foster+ Partners / Rem Koolhaas / Rocco Yim Sen-kee named as consultants for the conceptual plans. Each conceptual plan consultant will formulate a conceptual plan option, and one of them will fine-tune the option selected by the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCD).
Norman Foster has been selected to head one of three groups which will aid in the preparations of a master layout plan for Hong Kong’s new cultural district. Known as Lord Foster, he was already previously involved in the scheme, which stopped three years ago due to public outcry over some of his designs for the complex. Foster caused controversy when he proposed a 15-meter-high glass canopy which would cover most of the 40-hectare cultural complex, which is to be built in the western Kowloon area of the city.
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The Competition invites members of the architectural, engineering, landscaping and related professional fields and the general public to contribute ideas and concepts on aesthetically vibrant Noise Barrier/Noise Enclosure Designs for future reference and implementation by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Italian architect Francesco Lipari has sent us his stunning design, which received an honorable mention concerning the open international ideas competition in Hong Kong.
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‘Sadar Vuga Arhitekti’s intention is to create noise barriers which responsively interact with their context and climate, in addition to fulfilling its primary function of noise reduction. Adjacent the noise barriers’ trajectory, micro ambiences are created through material (greenery, structure) and immaterial (light, sound) devices. In doing so, the noise barrier will provide positive atmospheric qualities to its surroundings. The noise barrier is an interface between the road space and city space. Bamboo’s characteristics as a sustainable and local material make it ideal to create a unique and recognizable noise barrier.
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‘In 2006, Make Architects designed the ‘Wrap Tower’ responding to the lack of open space in this densely developed and populated city.
This ingenious design for a residential tower in Hong Kong creates houses in the sky with generous aerial gardens rather than stacked apartments with minimal balcony areas. This is achieved by wrapping the accommodation around a central service core to create a void spiraling up the building: external terraces are situated at the edge of the plan where they enjoy unrestricted views outwards and are not shaded by the floorplate above.
The geometry of this twist is defined by two different curves, creating an asymmetrical form which peels around the building without doubling back upon itself. The twist accelerates to create larger and larger terraces at the apex of the building, culminating in a three-story penthouse.
At street level, the void creates a natural entrance atrium which also marks the corner of the block on which the building stands. The lower ten floors of the building are dedicated to communal facilities, including a gym and crèche, while car parking is housed in an ancillary structure at the rear base of the tower.’
In two cities roughly 1000 miles apart, Austrian architecture practise Coop Himmelb(l)au embarks upon separate projects which both replicate the monolithic scale of China.
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This concept design ‘Pavilion of Infinity’, by Chan Wai Ching and Sze Ki Shan Ida, has been named winner in the competition for The Hong Kong Pavilion for the Shanghai World Expo 2010. Consisting of 3 levels the building employs a sustainable design. The buildings steel frame structure will be constructed with recyclable materials, whilst its outer layer will be made from polyethylene non woven textiles. Inside a translucent membrane is included to provide thermal and sound insulation. The 3 levels will display exhibits of Hong Kong’s past, present and future.
‘The Shanghai Expo will provide an opportunity for us to showcase Hong Kong’s city charms, quality city life and to promote Hong Kong’s creative industries,’ said Hong Kong Chief Secretary for Administration Henry Tang.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government intends to build its pavilion with distinct characteristics to highlight the theme, ‘Hong Kong- A City with Unlimited Potential.’ It will be an integral part of the China Pavilion at the expo.
Architect Zaha Hadid was appointed last month to design a new building on the campus of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
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