Hong Kong is a major world business city, a trading post between the Orient and the Occident, the east and the west. The city is famous for the grouping of skyscrapers seen in the photo above.
Famous architects with buildings in the city include Foster + Partners, Cesar Pelli, Terry Farrell and I M Pei. The tallest building currently is 2 IFC. Famous Hong Kong architecture includes the Bank of China, Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank and The Peak.
Hong Kong Developments : alphabetical list of all major projects
Hong Kong Architects - with buildings featured in this guide
Hong Kong Architecture Photos : Photographs with captions only
Ten Key Hong Kong Buildings, chronological:
1. Happy Valley Racecourse
from 1846
Architects: Leigh & Orange Ltd
World-famous multistorey stadium: Hong Kong Racecourse building
2. Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank - HSBC Building
1985
Foster & Partners
At 179m high the HSBC Bank seems tiny now relative to recent Hong Kong skyscrapers but at the time became world-famous for its strong concept and clean expression of technology and structure: Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank
3. Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre - HKCEC, Wanchai
1988
Marshall Strabala of Skidmore Owings Merrill LLP
Image : SOM
Hong Kong Convention Centre
4. Bank of China - Tower, Central
1990
I.M. Pei & Partners, Sherman Kung & Associates Architects Ltd
367m high skyscraper, clean styling with strong diagonal motif and double spikes
at top. Apparently bad feng shui according to Hong Kong architects that I spoke
to. Tallest building in Hong Kong and Asia from 1989 to 1992, until the completion
of Central Plaza, 374m high: Bank of China Tower.
5. The Peak - Peak Tower, Victoria Peak
1995
Terry Farrell, Architects
Curious building shaped like a Wok on two legs. Designed to look good on the skyline this is an early 'icon building'.
The Peak Hong Kong is reached by a funicular ride through upper Hong Kong
6. One International Finance Centre, Central
1998
Cesar Pelli & Associates Architects, Rocco Design Limited, Hirsch Bedner
Associates
One International Finance Centre in foreground with 2 IFC behind on left
210m high
The forerunner to the higher IFC 2 skyscraper, also by architects Cesar Pelli
with Rocco Design.
7. Chep Lap Kok Airport, Lantau Island
1998
Foster & Partners, Architects
photo : Dennis Gilbert/VIEW
HACTL Center Hong Kong - Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Ltd
Hong Kong Airport has been No.1 in the world since 1996 in terms of international air cargo throughput. Reports suggest it cost $20bn. Two islands were flattened to form roughly a quarter of the new island. Hong Kong International Airport is reputedly the world's largest at approx. 550,000 sqm: Hong Kong Airport
8. The Center, Central / Sheung Wan
1998
DLN Architects & Engineers
346m high
Skyscraper located in centre of Hong Kong business district. The Center Hong Kong glows in different colours at night.
9. Cosco Tower, Central / Sheung Wan
1998
Hsin Yieh Architects & Associates Ltd
view from this Hong Kong skyscraper
228m high
Cosco Tower
10. Two International Finance Centre - 2 IFC Hong Kong, Central
2003
Rocco Design Limited, Cesar Pelli & Associates Architects
IFC2 skyscraper is the tallest tower in Hong Kong
harbour views looking to hong kong with pencil of 2 IFC on right
This is the tallest Hong Kong building, taking over from the 374m high Central Plaza at 415m high.
The International Commerce Centre skyscraper is under construction and should overtake 2 IFC by 2007.
Hong Kong Buildings - General Photos:
typical views in wan chai looking west to hong kong centre
views looking south from wan chai skyscraper (happy valley racecourse on right)
modernist office building on hillside to southwest of centre
modern housing high on hillside to southwest of Hong Kong centre
view looking north over wan chai towards kowloon
Other buildings in this Guide to Hong Kong Architecture, alphabetical:
Central Plaza, north Wan Chai
1992
DLN Architects & Engineers
374m high
Tallest building in Hong Kong until completion of Two International Finance
Center - 2 IFC - in 2003. Tallest building in Asia from 1992-96: Central Plaza
The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre - HKCEC - is located immediately to the north, jutting out into Hong Kong harbour.
Cheung Kong Centre, Queens Rd. Central Hong Kong
1999
Hsin Yieh Architects & Associates Ltd; Cesar Pelli & Associates Architects, Leo Daly, Architect
The Cheung Kong Centre is pictured centre; Bank of China tower to left
Cheung Kong Centre is pictured centre; hsbc bank by foster & partners to left
283m high
The Cheung Kong Centre is the simplest (some might say dullest) Hong Kong skyscraper, extruded rectilinear tower with no frills
Creative Media Centre, City University of Hong Kong
2006
Studio Daniel Libeskind
This is the first 'chinese building' by architect Daniel Libeskind.
Another featured building by Daniel Libeskind: Freedom Tower - see New York page
Emporio Armani Hong Kong
2001-02
Massimiliano Fuksas Architects
The Highcliff and the Summit, Hong Kong
2002
Dennis Lau Wing-kwong, architect - Dennis Lau & Ny Chun Man Architects &
Engineers
Hong Kong Science Park Phase 2
-
Leigh & Orange Ltd
The Hong Kong Community College (Hung Hom Bay Campus), Kowloon
2007
AD+RG
Hong Kong Community College
Hong Kong University of Science & Technology
2007-
Woods Bagot
Business School and Advanced Learning Centre
US$100m
Hopewell Centre, Queen's Road East, Wan Chai / Central
1980
WMKY Ltd, Architects
216m high
Circular Hong Kong skyscraper with swimming pool at the top + revolving restaurant! It held the title of tallest Hong Kong skyscraper from 1980-89, losing it to the Bank of China tower by architect I M Pei: Hopewell Center
Human Genome Research Institute
-
Llewelyn Davies Yeang, with T. R. Hamzah & Yeang
Hong Kong Research Centre
Innovation Tower, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University - PolyU
2007-
Zaha Hadid Architects
Hong Kong University Building
International Commerce Centre, West Kowloon
2002-10
Architects: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates with Wong & Ouyang
118 storeys, 484m
International Commerce Centre
Jardine House, Central
1973
P & T Architects & Engineers Ltd
179m high
This 50-storey skyscraper was the tallest building in Hong Kong from 1972-80. It lost the title of Hong Kong's tallest building to the Hopewell Center.
Jardine House
Lippo Center, Wan Chai
1998
Paul Rudolph, Wong & Ouyang
172m high
Lippo Center
Nina Towers
2008
-
pair of towers, tallest at 319m high, currently 22nd tallest tower in world
For Chinachem Group
Ristorante Isola
-
Leigh & Orange Ltd
West Kowloon Development
-
Foster + Partners
West Kowloon Cultural Complex
Useful Links re Hong Kong Buildings:
Hong Kong Building News
Hong Kong Architecture - Guide to the Culture
Hong Kong - General Photos:
Hong Kong Institute of Architects - www.hkia.net
HSBC Headquarters Addition
Hong Kong Skyscrapers
New York Architecture
Architecture Competition
Famous Hong Kong building - Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank
Chep Lap Kok Airport + HSBC Bank building are both by Foster + Partners
World Architecture : e-architect - a guide to key buildings across the globe
Buildings / photos for the Hong Kong Architecture page welcome:
info@e-architect.co.uk
Hong Kong Building page : adrian welch / isabelle lomholt