New Hong Kong park to offer urban haven

A new park in Hong Kong, designed by Gustafson Porter + Bowman, aims to provide a place of relaxation and respite for residents, office workers and the public.

The new public space at Taikoo Place will include lush native vegetation and sculptural water features. Encompassing 6,410 metre², the landscape project will feature a variety of spaces, from small, intimate areas for conversation, to larger open areas suitable for special events like concerts and outdoor markets.

Being developed as part of the major HK$15 billion (US$1.9 billion) Taikoo Place scheme being overseen by Swire Properties in Quarry Bay, the project will see the demolition and rebuilding of two office towers with the Taikoo Place park to provide a place of relaxation and respite for residents, office workers and the public by “tempering the frenetic environment of the city.”

The landscape team are planting lush vegetation and 70 trees, including 53 of a native species grown specifically for the project to raise awareness of Hong Kong’s spiritually symbolic Fung Shui woodlands.

The public space will form a sequence of areas ranging from small intimate places around water, where people can gather and socialise with friends and colleagues, to more open areas suitable for events such as jazz concerts and outdoor markets. The largest of these spaces, Taikoo Square, is designed to create the impression of a series of terraces and is typified by two large longitudinal pools connected by a cascade and a small water table.

Water features will be carved and sculpted through 3D modelling to allow the water to “move in exciting ways” through the site, referencing the former quays that once existed there.

The entire design of the park is defined by large bands of brown and white granite, which will extend into the surrounding streetscape and the building lobby of the new One Taikoo Place tower in order to unify the landscape and interior space with a continuous design that enhances prioritises pedestrians the public realm experience.

A statement from the architects explains “the largest space of the project, Taikoo Square, creates the impression of a series of terraces and is typified by two large longitudinal pools connected by a cascade and a small water table.

“The carving and sculpting of these water features through 3D-modelling allows the water to move in exciting ways, bringing movement and pleasant sounds to the square while referencing the former Quays that once existed on the site.”

In order to promote biodiversity and raise awareness for Hong Kong’s culturally significant and protected Fung Shui woodlands, 53 of the tree species utilised will be native species.

The entire project is expected to be completed in 2021. Demolition and basement work started in 2015, with landscaping due to start in 2020.

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