Client: The
Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Site Area: 42,218 sq m
Site Area: 42,218 sq m
From the
architect. HKSAR
Government Headquarters is located at the historical site of Tamar, a former
naval dockyard. It is an intricately composed Government Complex, integrating
three principal facilities: the HKSAR Government Offices, the Chief Executive’s
Office and the Legislative Council Complex. The design projects a unifying
composition, while each facility maintains its identity and expression
befitting to its function. The two wings of Government Offices are joined
together at the upper level, creating the visual metaphor of an opening door. The
Legislative Council Complex and the Chief Executive’s Office flanking the Civic
Park project forward on either side, signifying their independence as well as
their dialogue across the landscape. The landscaped Civic Park, or “Green
Carpet”, penetrates the heart of the project linking the city with the waterfront, gives Tamar back to the citizens and brings them right through the heart of Government.
The design concept of the Project embodies four themes:
Openness – “Door always
open”
Enjoyment – “Land always green”
Sustainability – “Sky will be blue”
Communication – “People will be connected”
Enjoyment – “Land always green”
Sustainability – “Sky will be blue”
Communication – “People will be connected”
Door Always Open
With a grand gesture of
opening up the site from the city to the Victoria Harbour, the project is a
visual icon projecting the spirit of Hong Kong: a city always open and
receptive to new ideas and diverse cultures. The Open Door also symbolizes a
city which is justifiably proud of its openness and transparency of governance.
On a human scale the
Complex is a civic icon, where greenery takes centre-stage and architecture
assumes a supporting role. The Door gives way to nature and lush landscape. The
“Green Carpet” that connects the Harbour through the Door leads to a multitude
of people-friendly venues, including a sculpture Court, the Legislative Council
Garden, an amphitheatre, a floating deck, the Legislative Council Square and
the Tamar Corner, all for the enjoyment of the public
HKSAR Government
Headquarters demonstrates a passionate commitment to embrace a cleaner future,
with emphasis on sustainable design contributing to a concerted effort to bring
back the blue sky. Disposition of the blocks allows the prevailing wind to
penetrate the inner city providing ventilation through the Open Door passage,
it also allows solar access to the site from the south, while the stepped
heights of the buildings allow airflow mixing and recirculation, channeling
wind from higher elevations to enhance air ventilation at pedestrian level.
Besides, innovative façade design systems are adopted to achieve sustainability
for the development.
People will be Connected
The essence of the design
for people is on connectivity, dialogue and communication. On a physical level,
the design starts with a macro-view of the urban form adopting a strategy that
brings on a seamless connection of urban green nodes, from Hong Kong Park to
Admiralty Gardens to the future waterfront promenade, making the place and the
waterfront accessible to the public with ease and fluidity. To enhance this
connectivity, the Legislative Council Complex and The Chief Executive’s Office
are located one on each side of the site, on the same axes as the Central
Government Offices East Wing and West Wing, flanking the central park area and
angled towards the Waterfront to create unity for the whole development, being
set in more than two hectares of open, green and freely accessible areas for
the public.
On a symbolic level,
the design is an iconic gesture to unite the diverse functions of Government,
the unfolding architectonic planes symbolizing the desire to make a better city
where diversity flourishes with effective communication between people and
Government. HKSAR Government Headquarters does not seek to play an overly
symbolic role as a public edifice, but rather functions urbanistically on a
daily basis as a vibrant, integral part of the city’s life. In weaving a major
public place through its heart and thereby connecting the city with the
harbour-front in a celebratory gesture, it is a Government Headquarters with
few precedents elsewhere.
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