Hong Kong 1.0

[lucky7 73]

Outstanding updates, you really make me feel 'HongKong-ized' lol

As always, great work and impressions,

looking very much forward to more,

lucky7

[Schulmanator 5,793]

Wow- that's one seriously massive estate!

[TowerDude 2,187]

So many people, so little room. BHA has the answer to Hong Kong's great space problem

This morning while going on WAN (World Architecture News) I saw this intresting article about the HK density problem

One of the most intensely populated nations in the world, Hong Kong not only faces issues housing its inhabitants while they are alive, but is also forced to seriously consider space-saving methods of dealing with its dead. Barrie Ho Architects thinks it may have the solution – a vast columbarium sprawling across 64,000 sq m of natural landscape on Lantau Island and offering some 300,000 niches.

Remaining fully immersed in local culture, BAH have drawn on traditional Tulou techniques, presenting a curious spatial interaction between the roundness of an outer ring of niches and the square-shaped form of the courtyard house-style columbaria in the internal spaces. The encircling form exemplifies the “Round heaven square earth” approach in Chinese architecture. Within these inner columbaria, inward-facing reflective pools provide moments of pensive relaxation for visitors, whilst the open-air spaces add to the calming atmosphere and allow for cross ventilation – crucial in a structure that will host many rituals and offerings with burning candles, paper and so forth.

A key constituent of this design is the building’s relationship with its surrounding natural environment. BAH wanted to provide a sanctuary for those visiting their loved ones away from the fast-paced raucous buzz of inner city life. Whilst many public columbaria are constructed vertically in urban areas for ease of access and cheaper land rates, the Grand Columbarium breaks away from this traditional form to offer a alternative resting place.

The proposal suggests that main access would be via boat to a ferry pier, upon which visitors will find a bazaar selling religious supplies. In order to ensure complete access for those of all mobility levels, the comprehensive designs include a number of golf carts, waiting at the ferry pier to transport the elderly or those of poor mobility to wherever they wish to go. Past the bazaar lies the Square Piazza, complete with Administrative and Amenities Blocks. From above the columbarium takes the shape of a large sundial, further connecting the complex with the essence of nature – as BAH puts it: “pulsing along with the rhythms of the four seasons.”

BAH have also suggested a slightly pared-down version of this ambitious project, located on a hillside rather than on flat land. Prototypes of this secondary concept also merge elements of curved and sharply edged design, retain the basic principles of the original plan such as the Admin and Amenities Blocks, and promote a ‘back to nature’ approach; however there are now nine separate courtyards (the ultimate number in Chinese arithmetic) linked by a central Memorial Promenade relying on vehicular transport from Tung Chung and Mui Wo.

It appears that a number of alternative methods of laying the dead to rest are surfacing at this point in time, with the forward-facing Miró Rivera Architects making the WAN AWARDS Civic Sector shortlist only last month with their daring design for a necropolis in the Dead Sea. As the world’s population continues to spiral, it is reassuring to see that architects the world over are looking for efficient and respectful methods of dealing with the inevitable.

One other project you might have already seen is this

I don't know what you think about it, I like the first project, but the green towers look unbilduildable

Join me on saturday when we will visit the Wanchai District

[Benedict 3,119]

Fascinating projects. Those green towers look really odd!

[gio10469 24]

Wow you have a great CJ here! and I love your rain pictures! Great job, I can't wait to see more!

[TowerDude 2,187]

Replies

From the wampoa garden update

Paulvmontford : yes it is so repetitive

lucky7 - I can make you HongKong-ized! wow and you're an NY guy

Schulmanator - Yes it is immense!

From the Square earth Round heaven update

Benedict - The do look very odd

gio10469 - Thank you so much! here is more

---

Wanchai District

ust east of the Central District and west of Causeway Bay Wanchai is an interesting area.

It can roughly be divided into three sections: the new northern section along theHarbor & the mid section, and the southern section at the foothill..

Central Plaza -18 Harbour Road

http://www.centralplaza.com.hk/eng/index.php

Height

- 374 metres to the top of the spire, 78 storeys with 58 storeys office space

Structure

- Reinforced concrete

Granite

- 720 tonnes covering 40,060 square metres (area equivalent to 9 standard football

   pitches)

Glass

- 50,000 square metres (area equivalent to 11 standard football pitches)

 

Lift

- 39 computerized high-speed lifts

Population

- Total working population in the building is about 6,000

Here are two mosaics do look at them in full size for a full HK thrill

 

http://img810.imageshack.us/img810/5897/wanchaimos1.jpg

Southorn Center - 130 Hennessy Road

Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts

Sun Hung Kai Center

Join me tommorow for the second part of the wanchai district, and a better look at the pacific place

Timelapse video 2

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=c8c_1257590931 go there there is an awesome video please watch in full screen it's in HD! Don't click the add link on top

[Cockatoo 2,257]

Wooo, some seriously good stuff here. Always nice to see all the HKABT content lined up like that, your Hong Kong island mosaic was fantastic!

My Sketchup BAT's fail!

It would be possible if I had Sketchup pro. But I don't have the pro version. And if you don't have the pro version the KMZ and DAE files are encrypted. So there isn't any wayout for mequote>

Your BAT's are really nice, defiantly worth exporting. It'd be a shame to see them go un-finished.

I've got access to SketchUp-Pro, so I'd be able to convert your buildings straight to Max, make some night-lighting and export them to the game. It's way better for new BATers to start off learning Gmax or Max, you should still consider learning one or the other - it'll make you a much better BATer in the long run, but for now there is a way to get your SketchUp models to the game. Let me know what you think.

[gio10469 24]

Another great update! Great Mosaics! and I love your nightshots...

[TowerDude 2,187]

I wanted to PMyou but the "user find" didn't find you, so I'm using the thread

Wow that is really nice of you, I have been considering to learn 3d max and GMAX for quite some time, but I can't 3d max (i asked the school but they don't want to give it) and reinstalled GMAX and it always is buggy, before it use to crash after 10 seconds. Now the graphic are all square and freeze .

If it isn't too much work for you I totally accept.

Originally posted by: Cockatoo-210893

Wooo, some seriously good stuff here. Always nice to see all the HKABT content lined up like that, your Hong Kong island mosaic was fantastic!

My Sketchup BAT's fail!

It would be possible if I had Sketchup pro. But I don't have the pro version. And if you don't have the pro version the KMZ and DAE files are encrypted. So there isn't any wayout for mequote>

Your BAT's are really nice, defiantly worth exporting. It'd be a shame to see them go un-finished.

I've got access to SketchUp-Pro, so I'd be able to convert your buildings straight to Max, make some night-lighting and export them to the game. It's way better for new BATers to start off learning Gmax or Max, you should still consider learning one or the other - it'll make you a much better BATer in the long run, but for now there is a way to get your SketchUp models to the game. Let me know what you think.quote>

[TowerDude 2,187]

Replies

Gio10469 - Thanksa lot!

Cockatoo - you saw my message

http://www.pacificplace.com.hk/en/

If malls had star ratings, Hong Kong Pacific Place shopping mall would be a five star. This is one of Hong Kong top 5 shoping mall .The Hong Kong Pacific Place mall is a dazzling selection of upmarket, international boutiques from Armani to Versace and just about everything in between. This is not the place for a bargain, nor is it the place to haggle, but if you’re looking for something fresh from the fashion shows of Paris and London this is the place to come. You’ll also find top notch hangbag and jewellery shops, although these also tend to be international rather than Chinese or Asian.

The all also has some equally impressive, and expensive, restaurants, including the excellent Zen, ideal for Dim Sum, and Thai Basil. The mall is also home to Hong Kong’s only Dan Ryan’s outlet, often packed with businessmen pouring over the Wall Street Journal or US expats holding reunions. You’ll also find a pair of five star hotels, the Island Shangri-La and JW Mariott and a cinema.

 

Well that's it for this little update see you soon for Wanchai Part  2

[Benedict 3,119]

Great new update - I really like the real pictures/info followed by the CJ pictures.

[wwetom1 831]

Your downtown is looking good

[TowerDude 2,187]

Replies

Benedict - I'm Happy you liked it

wwetom1 - Thanks a lot

---

Hung Hom Peninsula

Land lease was granted to First Star Development, a joint-venture of New World Development and Wai Kee Holdings, at a tender price of HK$583 million. The land plot was sited for the construction of "Hunghom Peninsula". This was in compliance with the HKSAR Government's "Private Sector Participation Scheme" (PSPS), allowing private developers to build Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) flats conforming to certain specifications stipulated by the Government.

The towers are 40 floors high

Some info from economists and project devloppers

The flat sale price of $38,000/m2 net ($3,021 psf gross) was arrived at by comparison with transactions in Royal Peninsula, a nearby development with Occupation Permit (OP) issued in December 2000 and Phases 4 & 9 of Whampoa Gardens, the closest phases of that

development to Hung Hom Peninsula, with OPs of December 1987 and December 1988.

Royal Peninsula is a high quality development with luxurious finishes. Despite OP having been issued in December 2000, the developers were still selling units in the latter part of 2003 and the prices averaged about $52,700/m2 ($3,890 psf gross). Flats in Whampoa

Gardens (15 storeys over one storey of lobbies/shops) were fetching an average of about $32,000/m2 net ($2,620 psf gross).

Even with upgrading, the Hung Hom Peninsula flats would be well below the standard of the Royal Peninsula and although new, the

design is akin to that of the older Whampoa Gardens. Accordingly, a rate of $38,000/m2 for Hung Hom Peninsula was considered appropriate.

Tommorow I hope to at last to the Part 2 in the Wanchai District. "Until then take care!" Jeremy Clarkson

[lucky7 73]

Beautiful work, again, and great use of the airport terminal puzzle pieces (I also use them a lot... ).

Looking very much forward to the second part,

lucky7

[TowerDude 2,187]

This has no relation with th recreation, but often I like to post architecture info and projects in HK

This morning I saw this! what a big project! It is a huge tower! look at it beside the ICF

The text and pictures are from Dezeen.com

 

British designer Michael Young has designed a tower for Hong Kong with faceted surfaces that will change according to weather and lighting conditions.

Called PSi Tower, the project is the first in a series of strategies Young is developing for the Wan Chai area.

The building will house offices and apartments, with a public art space and restaurants at ground level, and outdoor theater area further up.

The plans are to be unveiled at 100% Design Shanghai in November, where Young is creative director (see our earlier story).

More stories about Michael Young »

The information that follows is from Young:

---

HONG KONG PSi TOWER by MICHAEL YOUNG

The PSi Tower Building, Hong Kong

British Hong Kong based designer Michael Young has been commissioned to develop building project strategies for Wanchai Cultural District. The first concept PSi Tower has been developed as an office complex with luxury apartments for business users and executives overlooking Kowloon district. Conceptually the project, based visually on the essence of ancient Chinese building techniques, has been carried forward into the 21st Century with its multi facetted surfaces that change according to weather and light conditions.

The 5-hectare site will include a ground level internal atrium for public art and pedestrian use, containing outdoor restaurants with outdoor seating. The upper central interior section also boasts a native plantation that encloses an outdoor theatre area.

Having lived in Hong Kong for several years, Young wanted to design a building that could be both understood by local residents and also be compelling on an international platform. Young, who has humorously stated he wanted to pickle Fosters Gherkin at the unveiling in Wanchai cultural centre today, admitted it was a great pleasure to work on such a large scale after watching great architects challenge the furniture industry over the years, and that finally the industry was becoming symbiotic a natural evolution of technology and engineering.

Detailed information on the project will be unveiled at presentation and public exhibition during 100% Design Shanghai in early November at Nanjing West Road.

Project: PSi Tower Hong Kong

Client: PSi Partners & PC Building Corp China

Design: Michael Young Projects Ltd

Place: Hong Kong, China 2010

Planning and consultant: Porbic Partners

Local Architect: Arnold Woo & Partners

[lucky7 73]

Wow, another step in modern architecture which looks very futuristic... and indeed thrilling! I like it, when shapes and surfaces are being transformed to something completely new.

Looking forward to more,

lucky7

[Pitito21 1]

WOW! You're in deep waters and actually you can walk over them!!

[hotChocolate 95]

I'm lovin' it!

[diamonddog_74 32]

Originally posted by: TowerDude

Timelapse video

I saw this video once and was amazed by it, one of my objectifs for my CJ is to make a video like this

" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash">

This is all for the second weekly update, I hope you enjoyed it, see you next time quote>

[TowerDude 2,187]

Replies

  Diamondog : Aha that's a suprise!

  Hotchocolate, happy you are

  Ptito21 : I am jesus!

  lucky7 : sorry to keep you waiting

Tung Chung meaning 'eastern stream', is an area situated on the north-western coast of Lantau Island in hong Kong. Tung Chung, currently one of the latest generation of New towns, was formerly a rural village around Tung Chung Wan, and along the delta and lower courses of Tung Chung River and Ma Wan Chung in the north-western coast of Lantau Island. The area was once a major defense stronghold against pirates and foreign military during Ming and Qing dynasties

Seaview crescent

This is still under construction in hong Kong, But it is certainly as far as Hong Kong mega estates can go....or is it!

Carribean coast

High-rise Towers

There are 13 high-rise towers in total. The towers of each phase are collectively named after a place in the caribbean. In deference to western and oriental superstitions there are no blocks 4, 13 or 14.

In Phase I during 2003 four towers were released; Monterey Cove 1, 2, 3, 5. Phase II released in 2004 had Albany Cove 6, 7, 8. In 2005, completion of four more towers including Carmel 9, 10, 11, 12 in Phase III. The name of Phase IV is omitted as taboo in Cantonese.

Phase V finished in 2007 conclude with the last two towers, Crystal Cove 15, 16.

All towers are about 170.0 m high and are 54 stories except for Monterey Cove 1 (which is only 164.0 m and hold 52 stories) and Albany Cover 6. Apartment sizes range from 636 to 1,295 sq ft (120.3 m²). Floor-to-floor height measures up to 9 ft 7 in (2.92 m) All units have balconies, except for those on 33rd floor and below in phase 1.

Garden Houses

According to the latest amendment plan, a total of 56 houses will be built. Each house is 4-storey high and size from 3,000 sq ft (280 m²) to 3,800 sq ft (350 m²) each, attached with private ground garden. The original plan was to build 10 low-rise buildings as be part of Phase VI.

Clubhouse

The clubhouse features many facilities, including a putting range, gym, swimming pool, function rooms, a silent reading room, and a bowling alley. Lessons in hobbies such as dancing and cooking are also provided.

Caribbean Bazaar Shopping Arcade

Retail Floor Area : 4,996 m². Wet Market Floor Area: 508 m²

In 2005, the Lands Department issued a Waiver to allow the Wet Market to be combined as part of the supermarket.

a mosaic of the whole area

Before the massive estates and the huge airport around here, there was a little village with fishmongers and classic chinese architecture.

In 1994 when Hong Kong decided to build the new aiport this hole places was planed and built. It isn't finished yet, the current population is of 22000 habitants, the expected population is 25000.

Tung Chung Crescent

Here are some weird "things" inside the crescent

You can still see the rest of the old village of Tung Chung in the background

It quite often rains in Hong Kong, A typhoon soon, maybe ?.....

So that's it for Today's update , Tommorow we'll go back on Victoria Island.

 

Take care!

[§haÅ--Ñ€ §hÅŽo 370]

I really like your HK Stex's! They are great. Also good job on yet another great update!

[TowerDude 2,187]

Here is a pic of the Union square with Paulvmontfords new BAT!

[Benedict 3,119]

I agree, yet another stunning update. I love all the etxra info in each update about construction, custom, ideas. Very nice.

[TowerDude 2,187]

REPLIES

Benedict : Thanksa lot for the compliments, I hope you'll enjoy this aswell

Sirron Kcuhc : Thanks!

Here is some mighty info on it  hkie.cvd.annualconference.i-wanna.com/download/Session%204_Infrastructure%20Solutins%20for%20Tomorrow%20_revised__R10_AECOM_AC.pdf

Island Eastern Corridor Link

 

The Central-Wan Chai Bypass (CWB) and the Island Eastern Corridor Link (IECL) will connect the Rumsey Street Flyover Extension (Route 7) with the Island Eastern Corridor (Route to form a continuous expressway along the new Central and Wan Chai Reclamation on the north shore of Hong Kong Island.

AECOM’s scope of work encompasses review, design, tender and construction phase services, including:

• Civil geotechnical, drainage, sewerage, water, structural and electrical works;
• Mechanical and instrumentation works including lighting, tunnel vehicles, ventilation, traffic signs

and traffic control and surveillance;

In the mountain there are the villas of the rich businessmen and land owners, It there that people lived in colonial times

That's it for today join me sonn for a trip to Kowloon

[Samerton 833]

Nice update, Dude!  Looks great!

[diamonddog_74 32]

I must say that I'm enjoying your updates very much. You're putting a lot of work and thought to your city, and it looks fantastic. One thing though, the lens flare effect is starting to get tired. Also that shaky blur effect. Your sharp, clear shots are outstanding, though. Cheers!

[lucky7 73]

*Gasp, gasp, gasp* This is really high quality and breathtaking, I wish I had your BATting skills, besides that: it just looks splendid! You rock! Please, keep me teased and looking forward to more,

lucky7

P.S.: Wishes to Northern Europe from the 'Middle' section of it lol

Ren

[Benedict 3,119]

Your latest update is amazing. Over the last 3 pages you've really managed to build a great story of your version of Hong Kong - I love it.

[TowerDude 2,187]

Region view

This is my current region view over Kowloon and Victoria Island

So guess what!!!? → I'm in holyday, this mean i might not update that much, but i'll be building like hell

I plan and hope to have Kowloon done quite soon, and be ready to do more updates

And also also plan on uploading the region soon enough,

well i'd better start building

[TowerDude 2,187]

Kowloon West Corridor

After the eastern Corridor it is one of the most used motorways in Hong Kong. It is also there were the famous junker ships are.

Junker ship yard

Harbour green

www.harbourgreen.com.hk/en/ceo.clubhouse.1.html

This is my region view now!

So thats it for today, but where will we go next→ YOU CHOOSE What you want to see