HONG KONG | Tamar Government Headquarters

[hkskyline]

Enter HK's controversial Door
Vince Chong, Hong Kong Correspondent
23 July 2007
Straits Times

THE Hong Kong administration has finally unveiled a winning design for a controversial HK$5.2 billion (S$1billion) government headquarters at the waterfront Tamar site, next to the famed Victoria Harbour.

The towering design, known as 'The Door', marked a strong start to Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang's second leadership term, which he began just this month after a landslide re-election win in March.

The approved design has also been seen as a symbol of political determination, following setbacks suffered by city officials in recent years over key proposals such as a goods and services tax (GST) and a giant cultural hub, which were shot down by strong dissenting voices.

'The Door', which was chosen last Tuesday from four contenders, marked an overcoming of detractors who had long complained about the city's high building density that has led to more traffic congestion, narrow streets which trap street pollution, and the lack of green, open space within the city.

Pollution is a big issue in Hong Kong, and has been blamed for the departures of foreign talent, especially those with young families.

A contract to build the headquarters - a building for the Chief Executive's Office and Executive Council, a new chamber for the Legislative Council and a building for lawmakers and the Legco secretariat - will be awarded this year, following further scrutiny of the design.

Work is expected to be completed by 2010.

The project in the prime district - first mooted by Hong Kong's first chief executive Tung Chee Hwa in 1998 - has taken a decade to get off the ground.

The then HK$4.85 billion project was subsequently shelved in 2003, with the city's economy crippled in quick succession by the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis, the Sept 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, and the 2003 Sars outbreak.

When Mr Tsang took over as Chief Executive in 2005, he revived the plan as the city began to experience economic recovery.

It is estimated that the Tamar project will help create some 30,000 jobs in the construction sector.

However, opposition from some sceptical lawmakers, as well as environmental and conservation activists, further delayed the project, with some calling it a 'white elephant' and a waste of taxpayers' money.

Unlike other more controversial proposals, however, the government managed to push this one through after convincing the public and lawmakers that it would do its best to ensure that the structure coexists with its environment, and not spoil it.

In finally obtaining legislative votes last year, officials pledged that the public's views would be heeded with the reduction of the project's height and density. Detractors were also assured that the project would have no long-term environmental impact.

A public consultation on the final Tamar designs attracted some 13,000 views - from people who filled in comment cards on the designs - which were said to have contributed to deciding the winning blueprint, though these have yet to be released by the government.

The proposals for the GST - to be tentatively set at 5 per cent - and a cultural hub did not even reach legislative voting, because of public opposition.

Many feared the proposed tax would erode Hong Kong's competitiveness as a shopping hub. Others were against a cultural hub project being tendered to a single private developer, which would have stood to gain from the profitable residential and commercial space that was included in the project.

City University professor James Sung said a key factor for the approval of the controversial Tamar project has been Mr Tsang's re-electionwin.

'He just started a fresh leadership, and this has given him more of a mandate to see through this project,' he said.

Ironically though, architects told The Straits Times, the debate between activists and officials has 'compromised' design quality.

'It has to be conservative now in order to please both the public and officials, most of whom know nothing about architecture,' said Hong Kong University architecture professor Lee Ho Yin, noting that 'The Door' resembles an 'outdated' French design made famous two decades ago.

'It is such a waste as the project could have been an iconic landmark like the Sydney Opera House or the CCTV Tower in Beijing.'





















The Other Designs Considered

[chex]

i really like the designs A and C... the complex on A is very nice with the park and the tower with the arc shape... and the C, those towers looks very ncie too...

[Fabb]

HK imitating Beijing ?
That's new.

[Rise To The Top]

Where did the last thread go?

[hkskyline]

Open door to creativity, says top architect
25 March 2008
Hong Kong Standard

When it comes to design, not many people in Hong Kong understand the difference between the good, the bad and the ugly, an internationally famed and award- winning architect said .

Rocco Yim, the Hong Kong architect behind Tamar's The Door creation, said because of this, there is little public pressure on the government to elevate its game in public buildings design through open competition, rather than relying on the problematic tendering process.

``Public architecture is the expression of a city's spirit, but administration people are deciding the face of Hong Kong,'' he said.

Hong Kong tends to be too conservative for creativity, Yim said, noting the problem is that architecture has been dominated by developers who are mostly conservative, preferring to stick with ``formula'' glories dating back decades.

The government too, he said, is playing it safe to avoid blame in the tendering process for public buildings. This system chooses projects based on price, the company's financial situation and track record _ not on design merits.

The system bars young architects from competing and is ``good for big firms, but not so good for the little guys.''

He said fine examples of public buildings such as the Wetland Park and the Stanley Library complex are rare.

Yim praised the mainland, Taiwan and Singapore for frequently boosting the level of their public buildings through architecture competitions to give young blood chances to shine and grow into stars.

He said opening up the public building arena to competition is a bold step, one which also tests a city's courage.

``This is about the creative spirit of a city extending beyond architecture _ this is a mindset,'' Yim said.

``If they are willing to do it in public buildings, this will permeate to arts and business .. it's about risk-taking.''

However, he is optimistic, since the city is close to a creativity tipping point for the better, and the tide is changing.

When well-designed public buildings begin to spring up all over the mainland, including the Museum of Guangdong _ which is based on the Chinese ``treasure box'' design _ in Guangzhou and the new Library of Guangzhou, Hong Kong will take notice, Yim said.

[hkskyline]

Media given a glimpse of plans for new Legco
19 March 2008
South China Morning Post

A public gallery, souvenir shop, infant-care centre and sky garden feature in the blueprint for the Legislative Council complex at the new government headquarters at Tamar.

The media was given a glimpse of the future Legco yesterday as the council secretariat sought feedback on the preliminary layout.

The latest blueprint features plans for a public escalator zig-zagging from the foyer to the second floor and transporting visitors to a public gallery overlooking the circular chamber.

From the public gallery they will be able to circle the chamber and walk to the front of the building where a viewing platform will provide views of the harbour. Glass partitions will ensure visitors can talk freely without disturbing debate.

Plans for the ground floor include a souvenir shop, visitors' cafeteria and an infant-care centre.

Lawmakers will be provided with a better working environment, with their offices situated in the "high block" next to Legco. A sky garden will sit atop Legco, providing areas for relaxation and meetings. The public will not have direct access to the sky garden, but lawmakers will be allowed to invite guests there.

But while public accessibility may be an improvement on the current building, reporters' could face difficulties with the complex's size. It will feature four entrances, making it difficult to find officials and lawmakers. The press room will be more than 30 metres from the lawmakers' ante-chamber and the general chamber, and officials will have their own conference rooms and toilets.

However, the new complex will feature the latest technology, and reporters will have Wi-fi access to broadcasts of meetings, provided by an in-house production team. Reporters asked for four screens in each of the two press rooms so up to four panel meetings could be simultaneously monitored.

Work on the HK$4.9 billion, arch-shaped Tamar complex is expected to be completed in 2011. The Legco secretariat is setting aside HK$20 million to fund and tailor the Legco interior to lawmakers' and the media's preference.

[hkskyline]

Smog-filled sky backs artist's billboard vision for Tamar
6 July 2008
South China Morning Post

A depiction of the completed Tamar government complex at the Central construction site shows the future buildings set against a hazy background - an unintentional reminder of concerns that the structures could add to the city's pollution problem.

The image appears as part of a billboard for the Tamar Development Project, a HK$4.9 billion effort to erect new government headquarters by 2011.

Tamar architect Rocco Yim Suen-kee has contended that his "door" design is environmentally friendly with a focus on energy efficiency, green spaces and water conservation. But before construction even began on the complex, Clear the Air, a Hong Kong-based non-profit group, suggested the complex could hurt the city's air quality.

The group has not budged from its position, saying the structures will not only draw in more vehicles, but will also trap exhaust by helping to create a "canyon" effect.

Asked about the new billboard, Clear the Air chairman Christian Masset replied: "It's a reminder of the deterioration to come. We should go towards improvement, but with this project we go towards deterioration."

The government disagreed, and offered its own explanation for the sign and its background.

"The Tamar Development Project has incorporated a large number of green features. When commissioned, the Central Government Complex of Tamar will be one of the greenest government buildings in Hong Kong," according to a statement from a government spokesman.

"The design of the signboard is an artistic impression produced by our architect. The background is blurred so as to highlight the different components of the Tamar project - the Central Government Complex, the Legislative Council Complex and the green open space. There is no haze or 'pollution'."

A spokeswoman for the Gammon-Hip Hing joint venture - which was awarded the Tamar contract - concurred with the government, expressing the same sentiments about the purpose of the sign and touting the many environmental benefits of the project.

[hkskyline]

[hkskyline]

Please move this back to the construction section. This project is now under construction. The plan has been selected and it is no longer at the proposal stage.

[kpexpress]

I like design D the best

[Aleks]

Yes, D was the best. It keeps the traditional ship used in Hong Kong while keeping up to date. The chosen design is too much of the copy Le Grand Arch but it's okay. Not the best design thought. D would've kicked butt all the way. And the sphere at the bottom looks awesome.

[Jaroslaw]

New photos here:

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...postcount=1151

[TANGELD_SLC]

MAN, they picked the "A" design. "C" was so much better, IMO.

[Lecom]

They picked the best design of the choices, imo.

[TANGELD_SLC]

But it's a complete copycat of Beijing's television building. They should have went with a more original design

[hkskyline]

Contractor sings the praises of green Door
1 October 2008
South China Morning Post

Numerous energy-efficient features have been introduced into the design of the new government headquarters at Tamar, the contractor says.

And when the HK$4.9 billion waterfront edifice is completed, the effectiveness of these features will be tested regularly with a carbon audit to monitor the building's green credentials.

Gammon Construction director Danton Lee said yesterday that the arch-shaped nature of the building - known as The Door - would allow air to flow through.

He said the headquarters had also been designed with green-carpeted open spaces and water features to improve the micro-climate of the site.

The facade will feature green roofs, shading devices, double-layered ventilated glass and clear glass curtain walls to reduce heat absorption and keep the temperature down inside.

The contract to build the headquarters - incorporating a building for the Chief Executive's Office and Executive Council, a new chamber for the Legislative Council and a building for lawmakers - was awarded to Gammon-Hip Hing last July.

Expanding on the green features, Mr Lee said natural light funnels would minimise the use of artificial light, while photovoltaic panels and solar screens would generate electricity and cut power consumption.

He said the building would be supplied by fresh air from outdoors when the temperature and humidity were low enough in winter, and an energy-saving seawater cooling system would also be installed.

Occupancy sensor appliances would be installed to adjust the air conditioning and switch off lights when no one was in the room to reduce the energy waste.

[hkskyline]

War bomb find clears offices
Hong Kong Standard
Tuesday, November 18, 2008



A World War II bomb buried by history and dug up by construction workers yesterday was safely detonated by police.

The bomb was found at about 9.30am by a worker at the Tamar site in Admiralty where new government headquarters are being built.

A police bomb disposal unit spokesman said the fuse of the bomb had been damaged, making it dangerous to move.

Explosive Ordinance Disposal Bureau officers first blew open the casing of the bomb to remove the explosives and then set off another to destroy the fuse.

The spokesman said the 0.5-meter long, 32-kilogram bomb could have caused serious damage and casualties within a 100m radius.

About 200 people were temporarily evacuated from the area and Lung Wui Road, which separates the site from Citic Tower, was partially blocked for several hours.

A police spokesman on site praised the care with which workers handled the situation and evacuation.

He said more bombs may be found at Tamar and stressed that other munitions - a legacy of heavy fighting during World War II - could be unearthed at sites across Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.

However, the spokesman said risk at Tamar is "not high" and a full search for explosives is unnecessary.

"It is very difficult to do a full search," he said. "The construction will continue and Gammon [the contractor] will be careful and follow proper procedures."

He added that construction work on the new government facilities involves digging deep enough to find any leftover explosives.

Work at the site resumed yesterday afternoon and a spokeswoman for the Administration Wing said no delays are expected.

Construction at the Tamar site began in February and is expected to be completed by 2011.

"Piling works started in July this year and some 40 percent of the bored piles have been completed," she said.

In September the British Consulate General on Supreme Court Road was evacuated when four wartime cannons were found on the Victoria Barracks site in Admiralty.

In September last year, 800 people were evacuated from North Point when a large war-era bomb was found.

Explosives from the World War II era are still found across the world, from Osaka to east London in a striking testament to the scale of the conflict.

[Jibba]

I don't see how this is in any way a "copy" of CCTV in Beijing. The only feature they share is the huge open volume and relative proportions. A very similar style, to be sure, but not a copy.

I think this design was the best of the options, so it's good to see it chosen. I really don't care for these gee-whiz square forms with huge, open volumes--they hardly make the best use of the area they are places upon, and in a super-dense city like Hong Kong I would think that maximization of usable space would be a high priority. At least there is open green space at the bottom, though, as opposed to some private barren plaza.

The coloring, shaping, and positioning of the masses does successfully create the illusion that the white mass is performing some structural acrobatics, though, appearing to float on its own above the black-colored mass. This effect has the potential to be stunning in its inception.

[hkskyline]

By fatshe from skyscrapers.cn :

[yarabundi]

Originally Posted by Jibba

I don't see how this is in any way a "copy" of CCTV in Beijing. The only feature they share is the huge open volume and relative proportions. A very similar style, to be sure, but not a copy.

I agree. My first thought was this ressemble a little bit (but just a little bit) the Grande Arche in Paris. However, it has its own style and character. This is definitely my preferate of the four. It is the one that would possess the strongest visual impact.