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Two designs are favourites among the public for the government's new offices

Two of four designs for a  government headquarters have emerged as favourites with the public, but green groups and architects are worried one will create a 'wall effect' blocking air flow along the Central waterfront and that the other will be too expensive.

A source close to the tendering process for the HK$5.2 billion project at the site of the Tamar naval base said  most visitors to an exhibition showing models and artists' impressions of the designs preferred the 'sailing boat' proposal from the China State, Leighton-Yau Lee consortium and  Gammon-Hip Hing's 'door' design.

The source said: 'The 'door' is quite a distinctive design. The 'sailing boat' model is a bit old-fashioned, but many people like it as they feel it represents harmony and good fung shui. Some members of the selection panel prefer the 'door', but the 'sailing boat' has an edge since it is much cheaper.'

A selection panel headed by the chief secretary, and comprising legislators and government officials will choose the winning design.

The views of visitors were canvassed by Polytechnic University.

According to the tendering rules, 60 per cent of the score awarded to each bid will be based on its quality and 40 per cent will be determined by the plan's cost.

The selection panel  will take into account the views of a technical committee and the public before making its decision.

Hahn Chu Hon-keung, of Friends of the Earth, had  concerns about the possible 'wall effect' of the 'sailing boat' design.

'The 'sailing boat' design consists of two big, horizontal blocks, with their width roughly equivalent to three to four blocks of ordinary office buildings. There are also two lower blocks in front of them. It is so bad to have such a big wall, which will block the breeze from the harbour,' Mr Chu said.

He said  pollution in Central was already serious and the government should avoid making it worse.

Roy Tam Hoi-pong, a spokesman for Green Sense, also said the buildings in the 'sailing boat' design were too closely packed. 'The wall effect there is very obvious. I am surprised the government is not sensitive enough to spot this,' Mr Tam said.

Vincent Ng Wing-shun,  a former president of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects, echoed the concern over the 'wall effect' from the design. He also said it was old-fashioned.

'It is clearly an outdated image of Hong Kong. A sailing boat can no longer represent the city,' he said.

Mr Ng agreed the 'door' design would be more expensive than the 'sailing boat'.

'The gaps between the two sides of the block are quite wide and it will definitely cost more to build the supporting block across the middle,' he said.

Another architect, who declined to be named, said this design might not use floor space efficiently.

'If one bureau is based on one side of the 'door' and the other on the other side, then staff have to go up to the top or down to the bottom to get to see each other,' he said. 'And this design means you will not have a big open space on each floor.'

The head of architecture at the University of Hong Kong, Leslie Lu, agreed the 'door' design would be  more expensive. 'A design that is out of the ordinary costs more,' he said.

Mr Ng said the spacial efficiency  was not a significant issue. 'This can be easily solved through  the distribution of offices among departments,' he explained.

A government spokesman  said all tenderers were required to conduct an air ventilation assessment to ensure that air flow  would not be affected. Tamar will house a building for the chief executive's office and Executive Council, a new chamber for the Legislative Council and a building for lawmakers' offices and the Legco secretariat.

The government's timetable calls for the contract to be awarded this year and completed by  2010.

Open and shut case

Project A: Gammon-Hip Hing's 'door' design

The issues

1 The strength of the structures needed to support the block going across the top will add to construction costs

2 The use of space may be inefficient, and maintenance costs may be higher, since the main block is two halves. Architects say these technical problems can be solved

20% building free zone

Project D: China State, Leighton-Yau Lee's 'sailing boat'

The issues

1 The buildings are wide and closely packed, which could create a 'wall effect' that disrupts air flow and reduces ventilation of streets behind the Tamar site

A sailing boat shape and a pearl (the round building housing a Legco chamber) are old-fashioned and may not project the desired image of Hong Kong

20% building free zone

Project B: DHK-CRCC

Project C: Paul Y-Shui On



Will it be the 'sail' or 'door' for Tamar?