Rem Koolhaas’ OMA reveals first Hong Kong architecture project – Sogo ‘twin towers’ at former Kai Tak airport site
OMA, famed in Asia for designing CCTV headquarters in Beijing, gives details of its design for Kai Tak development – and reveals Hong Kong’s innovation-shy Buildings Department knocked back its ambitious plan for ceramic facades
Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) is best known in Asia for large public commissions, such as the CCTV headquarters in Beijing – nicknamed “Big Pants” for its unusual shape – and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange building with its floating base.
Working in Hong Kong’s scrunched-up urban landscape has its own challenges, says Chris van Duijn, the OMA partner in charge of the firm’s Asian operations.
The two towers will occupy an awkward site that will be surrounded on all sides by other developments. They will have a total gross floor area of more than 100,000 square metres and will feature a Sogo department store as well as other retail, entertainment and food and beverage outlets.
