Redefining Hong Kong’s Waterfront
Hong Kong, China
Redefining Hong Kong's Waterfront" is a visionary concept for Hong Kong that had developed from 10 Design's exhibition "Reclamation" at the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Biennale in 2013/2014.
Historically the development and reclamation of the harbour has separated the built environment from the natural one. With every period of reclamation, pedestrian access and flow to the waterfront has been greatly restricted. This vision, by 10 Design, attempts to redefine the waterfront by re-establishing urban connections, creating an attraction for residents and tourists alike, and testing innovative strategies to mitigate implications of future climate change. The goal is to transform Victoria Harbour into a lively waterfront destination for public enjoyment and reintroduce agriculture in the urban setting through modern applications.
"Redefining Hong Kong's Waterfront" seeks to stimulate active discussions on how to establish a more ecological way of living.
Reclamation traditionally means to return land to an improved state. Throughout its history, Hong Kong has practiced its own version of reclamation to increase the supply of "usable" land for urban growth. These activities expanded flat terrain to create one of the densest and tallest cities on the planet. While such development has aided in Hong Kong's economic and architectural prosperity, it has separated the built environment from the natural one. As twenty-five years of reclamation activities near completion in Central, a looming question remains regarding the future of Victoria Harbour.
The waterfront should invite residents and tourists alike with a variety of destinations, pathways, and opportunities to relax, play, work, shop, learn, and grow. Creation of zones for commercial, social, civic, and ecology/culture provide focus to the waterfront with diverse activators woven throughout to allow for more social interactions and commercial opportunities. Building upon the efficient pathways to MTR and ferry piers, a continuous flow of bridges and trails will encourage fluid mobility through a variety of destinations.
At the west end of the harbour, 10 Design proposes a cultural centre welcoming the Sheung Wan neighbourhood to the boardwalk with active means of transit. Low to mid-rise residential and commercial buildings stack on top of the existing ferry piers linked by a landscaped green park that spans over the Central - Wan Chai bypass.
A view corridor established from HSBC Headquarters and Statue Square to the waterfront enables a central promenade with pedestrian bridges to cross major thoroughfares. Landscaping will feature fountains and water channels which purify rainwater and building waste along this path.
Before re-entering the harbour, these water channels create a low lying pool at harbour's edge to allow sampans, a floating market, and an expanded farmer's market for the sale of fresh produce.
Before re-entering the harbour, these water channels create a low lying pool at harbour's edge to allow sampans, a floating market, and an expanded farmer's market for the sale of fresh produce.
The current exhibition area will be transformed into a flexible arena enabling natural space, pop pop-up retail, and F&B between major events and installations. This enables a more interactive and socially inclusive connection year round.
The Wan Chai end of Central Harbour evolves directly from ecological services and strives to demonstrate that environmental features can also create economic benefit and social inclusion in a market driven city. 10 Design's Vertical Farm Centre (VFC) will explore a new urban typology and unique modes of ecology within a mixed-use complex: retail, commercial space, and hospitality. The proposal centres around a 420m tower that provides agricultural services and an interactive museum at its base, commercial space enclosed by a hydroponic greenhouse, and a luxury hotel with aeroponic atrium and observation deck. Agricultural production will provide benefits such as an educational tourist attraction, profitable crops, and encourage better health and wellbeing for the city. This positive loop cycle provides for the city as a whole as district energy and water systems turn waste to power and purify water for the needs of neighbouring buildings.
Interactive resilience will protect against the implications of future climate change through a new form of architecture that is dynamic: flexible in function against the threat of typhoons and flash floods. With increased intensity of storms in the region, the waterfront will need to recover quickly to enable continuous activity. 10 Design's proposed Cultural Centre explores this form by creating a semi semi-porous complex; three buildings under a single roof that allows natural breezes to flow through.
A series of retention ponds store and purify rainwater during storm events while providing sculpture gardens and amphitheatres during regular use. By responding to both the natural forces and the flow of the city, architecture can holistically integrate active resilience and infrastructure that captures the public's interest.
Beyond the building, the landscaping across the site increases green space to absorb rainwater, low low-impact design features to mitigate run-off from major roads, and riparian buffers to soften the harsh boardwalk seawalls.
A series of retention ponds store and purify rainwater during storm events while providing sculpture gardens and amphitheatres during regular use. By responding to both the natural forces and the flow of the city, architecture can holistically integrate active resilience and infrastructure that captures the public's interest.
Beyond the building, the landscaping across the site increases green space to absorb rainwater, low low-impact design features to mitigate run-off from major roads, and riparian buffers to soften the harsh boardwalk seawalls.
In addition to purifying water of heavy metals and contaminants, 10 Design proposes an aquaculture landscape of interlinked active wetlands and low density fish ponds, supported by a structural artificial reef, that also reintroduces vital nutrients and microorganisms, replenishes a depleted fish supply, and renews Hong Kong's marine habitats. The water from Victoria Harbour is cleaned to a standard that would allow for recreational swimming and a more gradual approach to the harbour's edge would create an urban beach that is active most months of the year.
team
Design Partner - Ted Givens
Project Partner - Barry Shapiro (Managing Partner, Asia)
Architectural Team
Peter Alsterholm, Nick Benner, Marco Bonucci, Ingrid Cheng, Jason Easter, Michael Grimshaw, David Guardado, Xi Li, Sheung Hok Lim, Yao Ma, Jon Martin, Nkiru Mokwe, Javier Perea, Peby Pratama, Sean Quinn, Yasser Salomon, Ismael Sanz, Kan Srisawat, Janet Tam, Shirley Tsang, Jon Van Der Stel, Vincent Wang, Jamie Webb, Jix Wong, Shing Rong Wu, Silan Yip, Warith Zaki, Joyce Zan
