The Tamar complex

The first civil servants began moving into the government?s new headquarters this week, with the Legislative Council and staff from 12 government bureaus set to follow by the end of the year. The site will eventually be the work place of more than 3,000 civil servants.

Site size: 4.2 hectares

Cost of project: HK$5.5 billion

View of complex from Victoria Harbour

Recommended that buildings leave 20 per cent of hill behind visible to maintain skyline

Central government offices

House 124,680 metres of office space

Legco complex

Cone-shaped design wrapped in glass, total floor area of 36,230 square metres

Chief executive?s office

Designed to look like an unfolding cube, contains Executive Council chamber, financial secretary and chief secretary for administration?s offices

2 hectares of landscaped space open to public, will feature civic piazza, amphitheatre and sculpture garden

Air flow

?Open door? design aimed at improving air flow between waterfront and Admiralty. Northerly winds able to move across green space through archway to streets behind

Other eco-friendly features

- Chiller plants use seawater for cooling systems that drive air conditioners

- Rain water recycling system

- Solar-powered hot water systems

Heat displacement

Hot air escapes through top of chamber

Cool air flows in at bottom

Sources: Hong Kong government, Gammon-Hip Hing Joint Venture