The Fantasy of the Hills

Arts Pavilion West Kowloon, Hong Kong

Arts Pavilion

West Kowloon, Hong Kong

The Fantasy of the Hills

Cultural
2015
Find out more

The Pavilion is composed of a series of parallel clay walls aligned with the axis of the bay, arranged like a musical composition, and opening up to a central interior space, which is covered by translucent, cloud-like discs made of alabaster stone. The variation in the height of the walls resonates with the undulating contours of the Hong Kong landscape.

The Staging of the Landscape

A Composition of Earth Walls

The West Kowloon Cultural District represents a newly developing area in Hong Kong, envisioned as a premier global hub for the arts and culture. The district occupies land reclaimed in the 1990s as part of the Airport Core Program. Located to the west of the Yau Ma Tei area, the district will feature a museum dedicated to visual culture, alongside various theaters, concert halls, and performance venues, all overseen by the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority. The Arts Pavilion is strategically positioned at the waterfront, offering views of Hong Kong Bay with the surrounding mountains as its backdrop.

A Canopy of Translucent Alabaster

The earthen walls define an interior space that opens to the sky, with light filtered through translucent alabaster discs. This translucent envelope, positioned between the walls, facilitates permeability throughout the pavilion and establishes a visual connection between the entrance plaza and the bay. In this manner, the pavilion functions as an intermediary space, fluid and open, situated between the surrounding hills and Hong Kong Bay. The clay concrete walls are punctuated by a random pattern of voids, which are glazed with glass. An integrated LED system embedded within the glass generates a subtle, magical lighting effect during the nighttime hours.

See also