Bamboo scaffolding (front), the Mid-Levels escalator and Hong Kong's 'scissors' staircases (rear) will be showcased for the first time in this year's Venice Biennale architecture exhibition. The show's Hong Kong site will feature eight exhibits, selected from 40 proposals submitted by local architects.
The stairs exhibit, by Andrew Lee King Fung and Associates, features two staircases intercutting each other to provide opposite entrances to each floor of a building - a unique displacement of staircases prompted by the city's space constraints.
The exhibit 'Ladder', by CL3, showcases Hong Kong's unique scaffolding techniques. Bernard Lim Wan-fung, president of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, said individuals had taken part at the Biennale before but this was the first time Hong Kong would have such a large-scale exhibit.
'The invitation actually came from the Arts Development Council. We alone aren't in the position to make this happen,' said Mr Lim. 'We want to show the 'Hong Kong-ness' in the exhibition.'
The event runs from September 10 to November 19.