Design unveiled for Hong Kong Palace Museum, plus two new ferry piers

Controversial new addition to West Kowloon Cultural District to have five storeys, with galleries on different floors and three central atriums with views of the harbour and Lantau Island

Reading Time:2 minutes

Some have likened the museum design to a ding, or ancient Chinese cauldron. Photo: Handout

Published: 8:00am, 7 Oct 2017Updated: 8:06am, 7 Oct 2017

The final design for the controversial new addition to the West Kowloon Cultural District – the Hong Kong Palace Museum – was unveiled on Friday, as well as plans for two new ferry piers at the site.

The fruit of what architect Rocco Yim Sen-kee described as his “most challenging” museum project yet, the planned five-storey building has been likened to a ding, or ancient Chinese cauldron. It will have interconnected galleries on different floors and three central atriums with views of the harbour.

The government green-lit the HK$3.5 billion plan in May, despite widespread concerns over the project’s legitimacy.

When the plan to build the museum on the 10,000 sq m of harbourfront land – previously reserved for a performance venue – was suddenly announced in December last year, critics decried the lack of public consultation.

A subsequent consultation report found “strong support” for the plan and paved the way for the authority to endorse it, but opponents have said it distorted views collected through face-to-face interviews with random members of the public.

Rocco Yim said his final design had taken into account opinions raised during the consultation, including calls for more public space. Photo: Handout

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x