Located adjacent to the West Kowloon Cultural District, this development covers 3.2 million square feet above the West Kowloon terminus of Hong Kong’s High Speed Rail. The design by Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) integrates a network of public gardens and landscaped squares to seamlessly connect existing and emerging communities. The project combines the station and its rooftop park with premium civic, office, and retail spaces, setting a new standard for urban development.
This landmark project is situated at the heart of West Kowloon, directly above the operational West Kowloon Station High Speed Rail Terminal. Serving as the sole station in Hong Kong on the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong High-Speed Railway, it functions as a key gateway connecting Hong Kong to Mainland China. The development is also conveniently adjacent to Kowloon Station and Austin Station of the Hong Kong MTR network. It links to a significant section of the 1.5-kilometer West Kowloon Park Landscape Trail, providing residents with direct access to the waterfront and the West Kowloon Cultural District Park.
Offering nearly 100,000 square feet of garden terraces, plazas, and atriums, the lower five floors feature shopping and dining areas. The site includes two pairs of interconnected office buildings positioned at the north and south ends. Within the large central square, enclosed by the office towers, sculptural pavilions and panoramic elevators connect different levels. The Central Plaza connects to the West Kowloon Park Trail and offers numerous outdoor gathering spots for relaxation, entertainment, and public events.
The design complements the unique geometric form of the West Kowloon Central Station and maximizes outdoor public spaces while enhancing natural ventilation throughout the site. It also respects the ridge line of Kowloon’s northern mountain range, adhering to height restrictions to preserve panoramic views of the mountain scenery across Hong Kong Island. The layout ensures that adjacent buildings do not obstruct each tower’s views.
This development delivers 2.6 million square feet of human-centric Grade A office space, with floor plates up to 72,000 square feet. The interiors feature virtually column-free layouts, allowing flexibility for current and future work environments. Each tower offers a minimum floor-to-ceiling height of 3 meters, providing sweeping views of Hong Kong. Every floor opens onto outdoor terraces planted with greenery, promoting a healthy and pleasant environment for occupants.
The towers are composed of interconnected “petals,” each oriented and elevated differently to create a dynamic skyline silhouette over West Kowloon. The top of each tower tapers inward to reduce visual mass, while vertical shading structures extend to the rooftops, forming a “halo” that shelters rooftop terraces and sky gardens. These towers blend with the new landscape terraces and civic square above the station. The ground floors also taper inward, reducing building footprints to increase outdoor space and enhance pedestrian and airflow circulation.
The project has earned a BREEAM “Excellence” rating alongside top pre-certifications from LEED, WELL, and Hong Kong BEAM Plus. It features high-performance curtain walls with low thermal conductivity and solar shading panels. Photovoltaic panels integrated into the roofs and curtain walls help reduce energy demand on the city’s power grid. The efficient central air conditioning system, coupled with seawater cooling, heat recovery, and an intelligent building management system, automatically monitors and controls building services to ensure optimal comfort, air quality, and significant energy savings.
This landmark development, situated at the core of Hong Kong’s transportation network, creates new open spaces for Kowloon residents. It also provides versatile work and leisure environments designed to enhance overall well-being. Positioned within one of the world’s most vibrant urban centers, the project aims to open new public realms by connecting the surroundings and emphasizing design excellence.
Transportation hubs are increasingly seen as prime opportunities for architects to craft vibrant community spaces integrated within urban infrastructure. In related news, Zaha Hadid Architects recently won an international competition to design a roll-on/roll-off ship terminal in Riga, Latvia, proposing the adaptive reuse of existing ship warehouses. Meanwhile, in China, AD Architects announced the completion of Jiaxing Railway Station in the historic city of Jiaxing. Similarly, MAD Architects unveiled designs for Lishui Airport in Zhejiang Province’s southwest, a region known as the “Forest City” for its lush landscapes and valleys.
Must log in before commenting!
Sign Up