Hong Kong Architecture

The Architecture of Hong Kong features great emphasis on Contemporary architecture, especially Modernism,
Postmodernism, Functionalism, etc. Due to the lack of available land, few historical buildings remain in the
urban areas of Hong Kong.
However, Hong Kong has become a centre for modern architecture as older buildings are cleared away to
make space for newer, larger buildings.
It has more buildings above 35m (or 100m) and more skyscrapers above 150m than any other city. Hong
Kong's skyline is often considered to be the best in the world, with the surrounding mountains and Victoria
Harbour complementing the skyscrapers.
Chinese Architecture
Prior to the British settlement of Hong Kong in 1841, architecture in Hong Kong was predominately Chinese.
With the majority of the population being fishers at the mercy of typhoons and pirates, numerous Tin Hau
Temples were dedicated to their patron Goddess. Likewise farmers built fortified villages to defend
themselves from bandits.
Tin Hau







After the British established the entrept of Victoria City (now Central and Western District on Hong Kong
Island), the local population increased substantially, and as a result Tong Lau (Chinese tenement) began to
appear.
These were three-to-four storey buildings, tightly packed in city blocks, and combining Chinese and European
architectural elements. The ground floor was typically shops, with apartments and small balconies upstairs.
These buildings had stairs but no elevators, and sometimes had neither toilet facilities. This Tong Lau
remained the mainstay of Hong Kong architecture until at least World War II; a number of these building
survive to this day, albeit often in a derelict state.
Tong Lau







European Architecture
Meanwhile, the British introduced Victorian and Edwardian architecture styles from the mid-19th century
onwards. Notable surviving examples include the Legislative Council Building, the Central Police Station and
Murray House.
One building that has since been demolished was the Hong Kong Club Building; it was built atop a smaller
structure designed in Italian Renaissance Revival style in 1897.
The building was the subject of a bitter heritage conservation struggle in the late 1970s, which ultimately
failed to save the building.

Legislative Council Building





The first building in Hong Kong to be classified as the first high rise was constructed between June 1904 and
December 1905.
It consisted of 5 major buildings, each stacking 5 to 6 stories high.
The structures were raised by the Hong Kong Land Company under Catchick Paul Chater and James Johnstone
Keswick.
Most high rise buildings to be built afterwards were for business purposes; the first true skyscraper in Hong
Kong was built for Hong Kong Bank in 1935, which was also the first building in Hong Kong to have air
conditioning; however this has since been replaced with the HSBC Main Building, Hong Kong of 1985. Likewise
the few examples of 1930s Streamline Modern and Bauhaus architecture in Hong Kong, such as the Central
Market and the Wan Chai Market, are facing imminent demolitions despite protests from heritage
conservation groups.
Central Market






Wan Chai Market

In the residential sector, multi-story buildings did
not appear until the Buildings Ordinance 1955 lifted the
height limit of residential buildings.
This change was necessitated by the massive influx
of refugees into Hong Kong after the Communist revolution
in China in 1949, and the subsequent Shek Kip Mei slum fire
in 1953.
Public housing estates, originally seven-storeys high with notoriously cramped conditions, public bathrooms
and no kitchens, were hastily built to accommodate the homeless; meanwhile private apartments, still tightly
packed into city blocks like the Tong Lau of old, had grown to over 20 stories high by the mid-1960s.

Tong Lau of old

The private housing estate began in 1965 with Mei Foo
Sun Chuen. The first major private construction came from
Swire properties in 1972 with the development of middle-class
estate of Taikoo Shing. With little space wasted on statues or
landmarks that consumed unnecessary real estate, Taikoo
Shing's design was the new standard.

Private Housing Estate Mei Foo Sun Chuen Swire Properties




Taikoo Shing






Contemporary Architecture
Until the late 1990s, the primary demand for high-end buildings was in and around Central. The buildings of
Central comprise the skyline along the coast of the Victoria Harbour, a famous tourist attraction in Hong Kong.
But until Kai Tak Airport closed in 1998, strict height restrictions were in force in Kowloon so that airplanes
could come in to land.
These restrictions have now been lifted and many new skyscrapers in Kowloon have been constructed,
including the International Commerce Center at the West Kowloon reclamation, which has been the tallest
building in Hong Kong since its completion in 2010.

Victoria Harbour Kai Tak Airport





Kowloon International Commerce Center







West Kowloon Reclamation
Many commercial and residential towers built in the past two
decades are among the tallest in the world, including High cliff, The
Arch, and The Harbour side. Still, more towers are under
construction, like One Island East.
At present, Hong Kong has the world's biggest skyline with a
total of 7,681 skyscrapers, placing it ahead of even New York City,
despite the fact that New York is larger in area. Most of these were
built in past two decades.
High cliff The Arch and The Harbour side






One Island East




Hong Kong Skyline
Hong Kong's best-known building is probably
Ieoh Ming Pei's Bank of China Tower. The building
attracted heated controversy from the moment its
design was released to the public, which continued for
years after the building's completion in 1990.
The building was said to cast negative feng shui
energy into the heart of Hong Kong due to the
building's sharp angles.
One rumour even went so far as to say that the
negative energy was concentrated on the Government
House as a Chinese plot to foil any decisions taken
there. The two white aerials on top on the building were deemed inauspicious as two sticks of incense are
burned for the dead.
Bank of China Tower





Buildings with Sharp Angles






One of the largest construction projects in Hong Kong has been the new Hong Kong International Airport on
Chek Lap Kok near Lantau, which was the most extensive single civil engineering project ever undertaken.
Designed by Sir Norman Foster, the huge land reclamation project is linked to the centre of Hong Kong by the
Lantau Link, which features three new major bridges: the world's sixth largest suspension bridge, Tsing Ma,
which was built in 1997, connecting the islands of Tsing Yi and Ma Wan; the world's longest cable-stayed
bridge carrying both road and railway traffic, Kap Shui Mun, which links Ma Wan and Lantau; and the world's
first major 4-span cable-stayed bridge, Ting Kau, which connects Tsing Yi and the mainland New Territories.

Macau Architecture
A collection of over twenty locations that witness the unique assimilation and co-existence of Chinese and
Portuguese cultures in Macau, a former Portuguese colony. It represents the architectural legacies of the city's
cultural heritage, including monuments such as urban squares, streetscapes, churches and temples.
Landmarks In Macau
A-Ma Temple

Situated on the southwest tip of the Macau Peninsula,
is one of the oldest and most famous Taoist temples in Macau.
Built in 1488, the temple is dedicated to Matsu, the goddess of
seafarers and fishermen.



China Insurance Building, Macau


Is a 24 storey office tower in the Special Administrative Region of Macau?

Coloane Village
Stands as a living testament to Macau's dual Portuguese and Cantonese heritage. The quality of air in
Coloane is relatively fresh compared to that of the Macau Peninsula because there are fewer local residents
and less urban development. Nowadays, the Coloane Islands is a good place for beach lovers, hikers and
golfers.

Dom Pedro V Theatre
Situated at Largo de Santo Agostinho, Macau, is one of the first
western-style theatres in China. The theatre is an important landmark in
the region and remains a venue for important public events and
celebrations today. The Dom Pedro V Theatre was built in 1860 by local
Portuguese to commemorate their reigning king, Peter V. The theatre is
neo-classical in design, incorporating a portico front on a rectilinear
plan.

Fortaleza do Monte
Built by the Jesuits, from 1617 to 1626, this was
the Portuguese colony of Macau's (in the People's Republic of China)
principal military defence structure and was crucial in successfully
holding off the attempted Dutch invasion of Macau in 1622.
It was built on top of Mount Hill, strategically located in the
centre of the Macau Peninsula, watching over the city in all directions.
The fortress is in the shape of an irregular trapezoid that covers
an area of approximately 8000 square metres. In the past, it was
equipped with cannons, military barracks, wells and an arsenal that held
sufficient ammunition and supplies to endure a siege lasting two years.

Kuan Tai Temple
Is the Anglicized spelling of Guan Yu, an important general during the Three Kingdoms period in China, being
now worshipped both in Taoism and Buddhism?

Leal Senado Building

Was the seat of Macau's government (Legislative Assembly of
Macau and Municipal Council of Macau) during its time as a Portuguese
colony. It is located at one end of the Senado Square. The title was
bestowed on Macau's government in 1810 by Portugal's Prince Regent Joo,
who later became King John VI of Portugal. This was a reward for Macau's
loyalty to Portugal during the Philippine Dynasty, between 1580 and 1640.
.
Lotus Bridge
is a cross-border bridge linking the Cotai reclamation area
of Macau with Hengqin Island in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province,People's
Republic of China (PRC). The bridge is the second road crossing between
mainland China and Macau, the other being the Posto Fronteirio das
Portas do Cerco at the northernmost point of the Macau Peninsula. This
border crossing is open between 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
The Lotus Bridge is located about 8 km (5 mi) west of the Macau
International Airport.

Macau Government Headquarters
Built in 1849 by Toms de Aquino, Baron do Cercal, the two
story pink facade structure is one of the historic properties preserving
Portuguese influence in Macau and located on Avenida da Praia
Grande, in the St. Lawrence Parish. The building used Pombaline
style imported from Portugal and popular in the 18th to mid-19th
Century.

.

Macau Government House
Is the state guest house of the Chief Executive of
Macau (currently Fernando Chui)? It is one of a few historic
properties preserving Portuguese influence in Macau. Like many
historic buildings it is clad
in a pink like colour.

Macau Legislative Assembly Building
Is the home of the Legislative Assembly of Macau and various
government offices?
Construction began in 1998 and was completed in 1999 for the
handover. The building is triangular in shape and overlooks Nam Van
Lake and within the Cathedral Parish. The assembly's hall overlooks the lake
at the rear. The building is also home to:
Administrative Offices
Legislative Assembly members offices
Archive and Library
Auditorium
Function Hall
The building was built by local architect Mario Duarte Duque, who also designed the Superior Court of Macau
Building built next door.
Macau Tower

Is a tower located in the Special Administrative Region of the People's
Republic of China. Macau used to be a Portuguese colony until 1999. The tower was
created by the architecture firm of Craig Craig Moller.
The tower is one of the members of the World Federation of Great Towers.
Besides being used for observation and entertainment, the tower is also used for
telecommunications and broadcasting.


Nova Taipa Gardens

Is a properly development project in Taipa, Macau. The land ford
is Hopewell Holdings Ltd and Shun Tak Holdings Ltd. Nova Taipa Gardens
includes Nova City.



Sun Yat Sen Memorial House
Is located in Macau where former family members and relatives
of Sun Yat-sen, the 'Father of Modern China' used to live. The House bears
witness to his short but significant stay in Macau in the early 20th century
where Macau serve as the starting point for Dr. Sun's travels around the
world; it also act as an important venue in which he conducted
revolutionary activities and finally as the ideal place he chose to settle his
family in later years.

Superior Court of Macau Building
Is the home of the high courts of Macau.
Construction of the court house began in 1997 and was
completed in 1999 in time for the handover. The court building is
located next to the Macau Legislative Assembly Building in Nam Van
Lake area.
The three storey structure uses various types of stones on a
concrete core:
Bushamered Portuguese limestone
polished gray lined marble arabescato
Portuguese black cleft slate
Norwegian Cleft Alta Quartzite
Steel, glass, copper and wood are other materials used throughout the building.
The building was built by local architectural firm Mario Duarte Duque.
World Trade Center (Macau)


Is a trade and convention facility in Macau. The 19-story tower and
complex was built by Portuguese architect Manuel Vicente and completed
in 1996, 3 years before the handover from the Portuguese back to China.


Squares In Macau

Senado Square
Is a paved area in the centre of the former Portuguesecolony of Macau, China, enclosed by the buildings of
the Leal Senado, the General Post Office, and St. Dominics Church. The square is paved in the
traditional Portuguese pavement. The main road of Macau's historic centre, Avenida de Almeida
Ribeiro passes through the square.

Tong lau
Is used to describe tenement buildings built in late 19th century to the 1960s in Hong Kong, Macau, southern
China and Taiwan. Designed for both residential and commercial uses, they are similar in style and function to
the shop houses of Southeast Asia.