West Kowloon Cultural District Conceptual Plan in Hong Kong by Rocco Design Architects Ltd

Article source: Rocco Design Architects Ltd

The proposed Conceptual Plan for the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) aspires to evoke a social energy conducive to the spirit of exploration and discovery, hence the essence for long-term sustainable cultural development for Hong Kong.

Aerial View from the West (Images Courtesy Pak Chung)

• Architect: Rocco Design Architects Ltd
• Name of Project: West Kowloon Cultural District Conceptual Plan
• Location: Hong Kong
• Category: Future Projects – Masterplanning
• WAF Entry: 2011
• Award: World Architecture Festival 2011 – Category Winner
• Photography: byPak Chung

The programmatic disposition of the master plan is structured on a 3-layer organization:

1. The Green Terrain at the south is a continuous undulating green lawn by the waterfront filled with leisurely retail and diners;
2. The City Link at the north fuses with the existing neighbourhood and accommodates spaces for living, working and all the commercial activities;
3. The Cultural Core in the middle unifies all the visual and performing arts facilities to promote participation by the locals as well as the overseas.

Images Courtesy Pak Chung

This planning framework addresses the need for a cultural ecology to provide education, incubation, commercial supports and opportunities for production. The master plan concept focuses on promoting interactivities and synergies between different components of the new District. Overlaid onto the 3-layer framework is an urban street-grid extended from the adjacent neighbourhoods to confer a social and historic tie with the surrounding old neighbourhoods.

Images Courtesy Pak Chung

A series of 3 dimensional public spaces each being strategically paired with a cultural venue evolve into a social network of diversity, inclusivity and interactivities to celebrate people’s cultural life prompted by the architectural settings. The Green Terrain on the south gently slopes down to fuse with the waterfront promenade on the south to reflect a 3-dimensional pedestrian traffic and circulation system. A Harbour Park is proposed at the western end which is a free-for-all outdoor open space with spectacular panoramic view of the Victoria Harbour. The Conceptual Plan aims to offer a low carbon sustainable community not just for artists but for the general inhabitants of the new district.

Images Courtesy Pak Chung

Plan

Tags: Hong Kong

Category: Master Plan

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