Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, Hong Kong : Building

Kai Tak Cruise Terminal Hong Kong
Foundation stone laid at new cruise terminal in Hong Kong

A foundation stone laying ceremony, attended by the Chief Executive of HKSAR, senior government officials and representatives of the architects Foster + Partners and Dragages team, has been held today to mark the start of construction of the new Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in Hong Kong. Reinventing the site of the former Kai Tak airport as one of the world’s foremost cruise terminals, the project will create a sustainable new gateway to the city and a major entertainment destination for residents.

The site on the south-western tip of the old runway has dramatic unobstructed views of the eastern entrance to Hong Kong harbour, framing both Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. The terminal has a large, rectangular footprint and is arranged over three main levels, punctuated by four atria that draw daylight deep inside the building. A pedestrian promenade rises up through the terminal and opens onto a large public roof garden, with open and sheltered spaces for picnics, outdoor dining and more formal events such as wedding banquets, all set against the stunning backdrop of the city.

The terminal will have the capacity to disembark a total of 8,400 passengers and 1,200 crew and its design also anticipates the demands of a new generation of larger cruise liners currently being designed. The spacious interior, which spans 70 metres, is highly flexible – the concourse areas can be converted into a venue for performances, events and exhibitions, supported by the terminal’s wide variety of restaurants and shops – this ensures that the building will be used all year round and can fully utilise down time. The sustainable design combines a number of energy saving measures and will generate power from renewable sources, as well as making use of recycled rain water for cooling.

Mouzhan Majidi, Chief Executive of Foster + Partners, commented: “Today’s ceremony marks an exciting moment in the reinvention of Kai Tak – we were delighted to win the competition to design such an important new gateway to the city. The terminal will establish Hong Kong as a major cruise hub in Asia and, together with the West Kowloon Cultural District, will further enhance the city’s position as a centre for tourism and culture.”

Kai Tak Cruise Terminal Hong Kong - Building Information

Title: Kai Tak Cruise Terminal Building
Location: Hong Kong
Date: 2010-13
Foster + Partners Team:
Norman Foster, David Nelson, Luke Fox, Jonathan Parr, Richard Hawkins, Brian Timmoney, Randy Liekenjie, Steven Chiu, Daniel Pang, Benedict Lu, Simon Mok, Lawrence Wong, Howard Chung, Lea Faber, Veronica Kan, Marian Lee, Connie Luk, Eric Po, Stanley Pun, Reine Kit Shun Wong, Yan Ting (Joyce) Chan
Client: Hong Kong SAR Architectural Services Department
Executive Architect: Wong Tung & Partners Ltd.
Structural Engineers: AECOM
Mechanical Engineers: AECOM
Landscape Architect: AECOM
Interior Design: Barrie Ho Architecture Interiors Ltd.
Retail Design: Benoy
Wayfinding Design: Graphia
Fire Consultant: AECOM
Facade Consultant: ALT
Main Contractor: Dragages Hong Kong
Cruise Terminal Planning: Passenger Terminal Amsterdam

Kai Tak Cruise Terminal Hong Kong - design by Foster + Partners » Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, Hong Kong : Building