The Masterpiece

The Masterpiece

Location: Hanoi Road , Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong HK China
Height: 261 meters
Year: 2002-2007
Floor count: 64
Floor area: 115,600 m²
Building Uses
 - mixed use
 - hotel
 - residential
 - retail
Architectural Style: modern
Materials: glass, steel, concrete

The masterpiece in Hong Kong is a residential skyscraper. It is located in the center of Tsim Sha Tsui, in front of Victoria Harbor. People can enjoy the view of Victoria Harbor in the Masterpiece from different directions. As it is built beside the railway station, connecting all the railway network in the urban area, it is very convenient for people to travel outside. Thus, these advantages make the Masterpiece one of the most popular residential skyscraper in Hong Kong. It is now used in three parts. There are luxury hotels and shops on its lower floors. On the middle floors, there are gym, swimming pool, shared with the hotels. The top floors are all for residential use.

One Island East

hongkonghustle.com

One Island East 港島東中心
Location: 14-16 Westlands Road Hong Kong
Year: 2006-2008
Floors: 67
Floor Area: 141,000 m²
Elevator Count: 28
Building Uses: office
Architect: Wong & Ouyang (HK) Ltd.
Height: 294.8 meters/ 967.1 feet

One Island East was built in 2008. The whole facade of the building was made of glass which makes the offices bright and clear during day time and the makes the whole building   bright and light in the night. Commercial buildings in the east Hong Kong Island are  generally only 20 to 40 stories, so One Island East stands out with 70 stories in east Hong Kong. There are two sky lobbies at 37th and 38th floor.[2] People who are going to higher floors of the building can take express elevators which only stop at sky lobbies floor and transfer to local elevators that stop at every floor. The sky lobbies was first used in John Hancock Center at Chicago.[3] The sky lobby can save our time when travelling to higher floor of the building.

[1] http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=31697
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Island_East
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_lobby

Nina Towers

skycraperpictures.com

 

Nina Towers 如心廣場
Location: Tsuen Wan, New Territorries, Hong Kong
Year: 2000-2007
Architect: Arthur CS Kwok Architects & Associates Limited
Height: 318.8 metes / 1,046 feet
Floor: 80 / 42
Use: Office, hotel
Elevators: 60[1]

Nina Towers are a twin tower of 80-story and 42-story high-rise buildings in Tsuen Wan, New Territories, Hong Kong. The original design of this towers was just called Nina Tower and was supposed to be the tallest tower in the world at 518 m or 1,699 ft. However, due to its location near Chek Lap Kok Airport, the height was restricted to the current 319.8 m or 1,049 ft.

The owner of Chinachem Group later changed her plan and broke it into two towers. The lower is known as Nina Tower, symbolising the late Nina Wang or Kung Yu Sum natively, the owner of Chinachem Group; the higher is Teddy Tower, symbolising her husband Teddy Wang, who was kidnapped and has since disappeared. Despite the different tower names, the whole development is called Nina Tower. [2]

[1] http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=1319
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nina_Tower#cite_note-0

The Center

Photo from zhulong.com

The Center 中環中心

Location: Central, Hong Kong Island
Height: 346 meters/ 1135 feet
Year: 1995-1998
Architect: Dennis Lau & Ng Chun Man
Use: Office
Materials: Glass, steel
Floors: 73
Floor Area130,032 m² [1]

The Center is located at Central, Hong Kong Island, right next to Central Plaza and Two International Finance Center. The Center is the fourth tallest skyscraper in Hong Kong. This building does not have a concrete core and is for office use only. The forty one Toshiba high speed elevators inside of this building are the fastest and longest elevators in Hong Kong(12m/s, 43.1km/h). [2]

[1] http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=123
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Center

Central Plaza

Photo from librand.com

Central Plaza 中環廣場
Location: Central, Hong Kong Island
Height: 374.0meters / 1227 feet
Architect: Dennis Lau & Ng Chun Man
Use: Office, religious
Year: 1989-1992
Floor: 78
Materials: Glass, steel, concrete reinforced, concrete [1]

Central Plaza is located at central, Hong Kong Island, right next to Two International Finance Center. Been built in 1992, Central Plaza is still among the top ten highest buildings in the world. The building has a rough triangular prism structure, which means it has a rough triangular base. However, all the sharp edges have been cut. This makes the building looks more steady and mild. Moreover, Hong Kong people believe in “Feng Shui”(1) and consider it very important when designing and constructing new buildings. It is believed in Feng Shui that sharp edges of a building could bring some negative qi(2) to the neighborhood of it. Cutting the sharp edges not only brought respect to its neighborhood but maximized the use of land on one of the most expensive land in the world.

Feng shui 風水, is an ancient Chinese system of aesthetics believed to use the laws of both Heaven (astronomy) and Earth (geography) to help one improve life by receiving positive qi.[2]
In traditional Chinese culture, qi, 氣 also spelled chi or ch'i in English, is an active principle forming part of any living thing. [3]

[1] http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=112
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feng_shui
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qi
[4] Photo from librand.com

Two International Finance Centre

Two International Finance Centre  國際金融中心二期
Location: Central, Hong Kong Island
Architect: Cesar Pelli & Association Architects
Year: 1997-2003
Height: 406.9 meters / 1,134.9 feet
Stories: 90
Use: Office, parking garage and retail
Material: Glass, Steel[1]

The outlook of the Two International Finance Center is famous of its simple, steady and  “The width of the tower is 56.960 meters at the base, and 39.148 meters at the main roof, according to the blueprint.”[2] The indented top of the building makes it to look slimmer, smart, light and tall. The large amount of glass brings more nature light into the office rooms during day time, relaxing the people inside. While during the nights, the building would be lighted up. It looks just like a torch standing right besides the Victoria Harbor, shining and waving to Kowloon Island, and to the entire world. The Two International Finance Center is the symbol of the Victoria Harbor which is one of the most famous harbor all over the world and famous by its night scenery.

[1] http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=11
[2]http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=11
[3]Photo from gakei.com

International Commerce Center

Location: West Kowloon, Hong Kong Island
Architect: Wong & Ouyang (HK) Ltd.
Year: 2010
Height: 484.0 meters /
Stories: 108
Use: Hotel, observation, office, parking garage, retail

Built in 2010, the International Commerce Center of Hong Kong stands at the center of Hong Kong island. It is still the tallest building in Hong Kong and the fourth tallest building in the world. It has a glass facade and three horizontal column on the exterior of the building. During the night, we can see the beautiful colorful bright light from the rooms through the glass facade. The lower corner of the building looks like being cut. It creates a special steady feeling of this building.