U017_Hong Kong Waterfront
Hong Kong, Hong KongThe new Central Waterfront of Hong Kong will be an “artificial landscape” gained to the sea as a result of the expansion of the natural landscape of the island.
This artificial landscape will provide a pleasant pedestrian promenade along the waterfront with commercial and leisure facilities, cross connections to the surroundings providing and easy access to the water and a strong and iconic image of the waterfront visible from Kowloon.
The “artificial landscape” is based on three elements: artificial topography, facilities integrated in the artificial topography and buildings located on top of the artificial topography.
“Artificial topography”
The great variety of different situations along the border of the site is linked by a continuous “artificial topography”.
This topography consists of ramps, dunes and hills that generate a continuous flow inside the site, and between the site and the surroundings.
The topography reinforces singular perspectives, creates high points with spectacular views and provides a great variety of different open air spaces like plazas, auditoriums, belvederes, etc.
Facilities integrated in the “artificial topography”
Commercial and leisure facilities are integrated in the artificial landscape to complement the open air spaces. Cafés and restaurants will be expanded with terraces over the squares with views over the water, shops and malls will create lively squares and paths, and cultural activities will use the artificial topography as urban stage for their performances.
Buildings on the “artificial topography”
The pedestrian surface of the “artificial topography” and the facilities integrated inside form a “functional plinth” that, like in other parts of the city, works as a plinth to lay on top few buildings that establish an equilibrated dialogue with the surrounding city.
A three-dimensional matrix interlinks three different parameters: the topographic layers, the thematic corridors and the activity areas along the waterfront.
The thematic corridors cross the entire area from south to north to connect the existing city with the site and this one with the Victoria Harbour.
Three different themes: culture, civic and history link the functions of the buildings near the corridors to the activities proposed for the public space in order to achieve urban spaces with their own specific identity.
The activity areas provide diversity of activities along the waterfront related with the facilities integrated in the artificial topography.
The activities vary from leisure and recreational on the east part around the marina to the cultural activities in connection with the cultural corridor and the commercial ones in the IFC’s area.
The proposal can be defined as a three-dimensional system that generates a rich and lively waterfront and that provides flexibility for possible adjustments along the process.
The final result is not only a plan that creates an exciting and attractive urban life, but also an urban space with their own specific identity able to become the icon of the waterfront of Hong Kong.
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