Hong Kong in the 21st Century

By:  | December - 15 - 2009

Special Mention
2006 Skyscraper Competition

Justyna Karakiewicz, Jeff Cheng, John Kao
Hong Kong

 

Elevation

Special Mention

 

Hong Kong is a city of extreme landscape conditions in which the majority of the land is defined as high steep terrain. Due to this condition there is a complex infrastructure of trains and escalators for the mobility of the pedestrians. This type of infrastructure accounts for more than 50 percent of the available land. The remaining areas are clustered with isolated skyscrapers surrounded by heavy vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

Because of this phenomenon, we think that Hong Kong doesn’t need another skyscraper but a building that will offer public areas for the inhabitants.Causeway Bay, one of the most heavily populated areas in the world, is defined by a large public park to the east and a major traffic route to the north. An entrance to the Cross Harbor tunnel is also located in this area. Slow moving traffic is a constant all-day long, causing intense noise and pollution. The traffic spreads to the surrounding streets and heavily suffocates the neighborhood.

The only access to the harbor front is through a pedestrian tunnel, which was originally built as water infrastructure. This has lead to a deserted waterfront with a lot of residual spaces. By identifying this land we come up with an interesting development proposal that would provide a large number of public areas, as well as housing and office spaces. This proposal is designed in phases and will grow through the years. It will also regenerate the harbor and will bring back life to this area of Hong Kong.

 

Board - 1

Board – 1

 

Board - 2

Board – 2

 

 

 

 

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