Keep focus of cultural district on activities, says noted architect
An architect who has created modern iconic buildings around the world says cultural activities and not buildings should be the priority for the West Kowloon Cultural District.
Dutchman Rem Koolhaas, the 2000 winner of the Pritzker Architecture Prize - known as the profession's Nobel Prize - and a professor of architecture at Harvard University, said the project should 'make culture more accessible, much more than a building'.
In Hong Kong last week for Business of Design Week, Professor Koolhaas, who has visited the city more than 50 times in the past 14 years, said he was aware of developments for the city's biggest cultural project.
'It is an interesting moment,' he said. 'I am very much aware that the original planing of the project was changed because the people protested; this is the first time in Hong Kong [that people have] had such direct involvement with big design.
'After the incident, it is clear that some critical audiences are waiting. It is very clear that it cannot be independent of the city. It has to be extremely connected to the city.'
He expected the current economic gloom would bring some changes to the project.
'It is also interesting to note that because of the economic crisis, there is less pressure to develop everything immediately. My instinct is that it can be slower and more sensitive, maybe also more experimental.'
Responsible for projects including the China Central Television Headquarters in Beijing and Seattle's Central Library, Professor Koolhaas' works are always considered iconic. However, he put that down to limited expectations about the shape of buildings over the past 15 years.
Instead of having an iconic building as the focus for the Hong Kong cultural project, he suggested that the district should be 'parallel to the coastline'. He was also concerned about the relationship between the district and the surrounding area.
'West Kowloon is going to be a station for trains to the mainland,' he said. '[The district] has to be featured as an end point; the point of contact of China and Hong Kong.'
Professor Koolhaas also said prices for events in West Kowloon should be kept at a level that was accessible to most people.
'[Hong Kong government officials] have asked me for advice. I think the entire issue of the building is not the priority. The priority is to find a settled and attractive combination of activities.'
He said his favourite buildings in Hong Kong were those that were being pulled down on a regular basis.
