The Fantasy of the Hills
West Kowloon, Hong Kong
Find out more
Status
Client
Address
Date
Area
Program (Details)
Cafeteria, exhibition spaces, meeting place
Credits
Mikoü
Architect
Mikoü
Structure
BOLLINGER GROHMANN
Fluids
–
HQE
–
Economy
SLETEC
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 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.
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.
