M+ architects wanted to design a building worthy of the art inside
The architectural firm chosen to design M+ faced a tough challenge - make it blend in with the skyline and worthy of the diverse works it will house
In architecture, everyone is a critic. To some, the minimalist inverted T-shape of Hong Kong's planned M+ visual culture museum is an elegant urban statement. To others, perhaps expecting an architectural spectacle more like the iconic Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, it appears disappointingly understated on a skyline dominated by the 118-storey International Commerce Centre Tower.
But to Swiss architect Jacques Herzog, whose Pritzker Prize-winning firm Herzog & de Meuron won the prestigious commission, the debate is a natural part of the urban development process.
"The success of public projects like M+ is very dependent on the architect's ability to create a building that has a transformative character, that offers people new opportunities which create a collective sense of ownership and pride," Herzog explains during a visit last month to inspect progress at the site. The project is at an early stage, with piling works under way.
"It is not just about the art and contents. It is also about engaging and collaborating with the public. This is one of the great design challenges architects face today."
Scheduled for completion in 2018, the 645,000 sq ft building will take centre stage in the 40-hectare West Kowloon Cultural District. It will also be one of the largest museums of modern and contemporary visual culture in the world, featuring art, architecture, design and the moving image.