Three Hong Kong design projects transform public spaces
Monocle highlights three innovative design projects in Hong Kong that address the issues of urban overcrowding. Onebite Design Studio has created The Wonderful Town of Play, a 32,000 sq ft rooftop playground in Tin Shui Wai, where people have less than 1 sq m of open space each. This playground features nine attractions inspired by the Hong Kong Wetland Park, including climbing structures, a five-metre adventure tower, and educational displays on local wildlife. New Office Works transformed an unused cargo pier on the Kowloon Peninsula into Townplace Pier, complete with a wave-like canopy and rainwater-collecting steel columns. Furthermore, Snøhetta's Hong Kong office, established in 2018, has moved to a larger space in Sai Ying Pun, designed to foster community interaction.
Key facts
- Onebite Design Studio created a 32,000 sq ft rooftop playground in Tin Shui Wai, Hong Kong.
- Open space per person in north Tin Shui Wai is less than 1 sq m, below the government's 3.5 sq m benchmark.
- The playground, The Wonderful Town of Play, is located on a car park at T Town shopping mall.
- New Office Works transformed a disused cargo pier on the Kowloon Peninsula into Townplace Pier.
- Townplace Pier features a canopy with five ribbons of wave-like patterns supported by slender columns.
- Snøhetta's Hong Kong office moved to a larger space in Sai Ying Pun to accommodate growth.
- Snøhetta is working on the Shanghai Grand Opera House and the Shibuya Upper West Project in Tokyo.
- Snøhetta's Hong Kong office has a street-level entrance and a communal table for meals and meetings.
Entities
Artists
- Alan Cheung
- Vivian Tsoi
- Evelyn Ting
- Paul Tse
- Richard Wood
Institutions
- Onebite Design Studio
- New Office Works
- Snøhetta
- Monocle
- T Town
Locations
- Hong Kong
- Tin Shui Wai
- New Territories
- Kowloon Peninsula
- Townplace Pier
- Sai Ying Pun
- Shanghai
- Tokyo
- China
- Japan
Sources
- Monocle —