IFC’s double elevators drill a gaping hole in Jardine House’s kitsch look. “King Kong climbed us in ‘Mighty Peking Man,’” retorts Jardine House. “But we’ve had Angelina Jolie,” sighs IFC. Two IFC slam dunks the House into the harbor and comes back for more.

Hong Kong Cultural Center VS The Peninsula

Hong Kong Cultural Center
Stats: Boasts the widest range of first-class cultural performances in the city and Asia’s largest pipe organ, 16 years old.
Secret Weapon: Don’t underestimate its shape, visibility and most of all, the color.
Form: It’s not nicknamed the “pink elephant” for nothing.
Address: Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui

The Peninsula
Stats: 399 feet, 30 floors, 300 rooms, 78 years old (tower 11 years old).
Secret Weapon: The rooftop helipad.
Form: It’s the last colonial hotel in the city, offering class to burn, and street-cred in the form of the Philippe Starck-designed Felix restaurant. A sleeper.
Address: Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui

Winner: The Peninsula

The Pen’s old-school elegance doesn’t even recognize its nouveau riche neighbor. “Tacky,” it sneers. Aptly, the Cultural Center collapses into a puddle of tears and asks for advice from the neighboring Clock Tower.

Convention and Exhibition Center VS Central Plaza

Convention and Exhibition Center
Stats: Five exhibition halls, two convention halls, two theaters, 52 meeting rooms, a business center and seven restaurants. Newest phase is eight years old.
Secret Weapon: A prime city-center harborfront location topped off by that eye-catching rooftop, nicknamed the “turtle” by some.
Form: Voted Asia-Pacific’s leading conference center numerous times, the Turtle looks like a lock.
Address: Harbour Road, Wan Chai

Central Plaza

Stats: 1,227 feet, 78 floors, 13 years old.
Secret Weapon: Not forgetting this was the tallest building in the city until recently, the four-bar neon clock is a unique feature.
Form: Churchgoers at the world’s highest church on the 75th floor pray the Plaza hits the finals.
Address: Harbour Road, Wan Chai

Winner: Convention and Exhibition Center

Might takes on height in this hard-fought round. Once the world’s tallest reinforced concrete building, Central Plaza implodes in the face of an onslaught of CEC worldly accolades.

City Hall VS Legco

City Hall
Stats: 12 stories, 43 years old.
Secret Weapon: Boasts a concert hall, theater, exhibition hall and garden.
Form: Favored by some architects for its classic, unassuming style, others may see it as dull and uninspiring. Light betting expected.
Address: Edinburgh Place, Central

Legco
Stats: Two stories, 93 years old.
Secret Weapon: Neo-classical historic charm in spades, and a basement with a grisly past as a Japanese torture chamber.
Form: Designed by Sir Aston Webb, the British architect responsible for part of Buckingham Palace, the battle's oldest contender is a classic. Don’t count out this underdog.
Address: Statue Square, Central

Winner: Legco

“We’re a preserved monument,” smiles the granite-clad Legco Building. “You’re just a 60s relic.” City Hall’s speakers short circuit in shocked response. Legco confidently awaits a worthy challenger.

KONG DIVISION

The Center VS Hopewell Center

The Center
Stats: 1,135 feet, 73 floors, seven years old.
Secret Weapon: Those 8,784 red, green and blue neon tubes.
Form: Will its narrow, concrete-free base withstand upper body pressure? And will its lights short circuit? These are the unknowns.
Address: Queen’s Road, Central

Hopewell Center
Stats: 709ft, 66 floors, 26 years old.
Secret Weapon: Owing to its unique circular shape, it’s still a standout after all these years. Proud possessor of the only revolving restaurant in the city.
Form: Once the city's tallest building, it’s loved and loathed in equal measure. Could go far.
Address: Queen’s Road, Wan Chai

Winner: Hopewell Center

Old-school height meets modern might in this highly anticipated bout. But The Center’s neon lights blow when gleeful visitors are discovered paddling in Hopewell’s rooftop feng shui pool. “Thank goodness,” chuckles Hopewell. “Those lights have been giving us a headache.”

The Lippo Center VS Bank of China Tower

The Lippo Center
Stats: 564 feet, 44 floors, 17 years old
Secret Weapon: That strange shape? Originally called the Bond Centre, it was designed for disgraced Aussie tycoon Alan Bond to resemble koalas climbing a tree. Really. No… really.
Form: Always worth a second glance, but unlikely to climb to the top.
Address: Queensway, Admiralty

Bank Of China Tower
Stats: 1,205 feet, 72 floors, 15 years old.
Secret Weapon: The sleek, distinctive geometric shape, courtesy of architect I.M. Pei, attracted many feng shui conspiracy theories in the 90s - those spiky diamonds were said to bring bad feng shui to nearby Government House - earning it the nickname “The Dagger in the Heart of Central.” Pei claims he was inspired by bamboo.
Form: It’s called “one of the most outstanding achievements in modern architecture” for a reason. Could stab everything in its path.
Address: Garden Road, Central

Winner: Bank Of China Tower

“Koalas!” BOC laughs. “My design came from perfectly poised bamboo. I’m also one of the most photographed buildings in the world. I represent strength, vitality and growth.” The Lippo Center hugs itself tightly as it slinks away, embarrassed by a decisive defeat.

Hong Kong International Airport VS Cyberport

Hong Kong International Airport
Stats: The passenger terminal covers 5,920,000 square feet, seven years old.
Secret Weapon: Accolades. Sir Norman Foster’s design is regularly voted Asia-Pacific’s leading airport and has also been voted one of the “Top 10 Construction Achievements of the 20th Century.” An entire island was flattened to make room for it.
Form: A holder of two Guinness World Records (most expensive airport and largest airport terminal), this baby packs a big, big, big punch.
Address: Chek Lap Kok, Lantau Island

Cyberport
Stats: 10 floors, part of a US$2 billion complex, two years old.
Secret Weapon: Billed as the internationally acclaimed “Intelligent Building Of The Year” in 2004.
Form: Growing in leaps and bounds as a complex, and as a building - four restaurants and more than 290,000 square feet of retail outlets and entertainment is nothing to sneeze at. A future contender.
Address: Cyberport Road, Pok Fu Lam

Winner: Hong Kong International Airport

Cyberport vainly stumbles around for friends, supporters, anyone, as stacks of planes, passengers and tourists arrive and depart daily from Chek Lap Kok. The briefest of glancing blows sinks Cyberport into the water.

Cheung Kong Center VS HSBC Headquarters Building

Cheung Kong Center
Stats: 928 feet, 62 floors, six years old.
Secret Weapon: Reflective by day and superbly sparkly at night when it's illuminated by a computer-operated optic lighting system.
Form: Described by some as the box the Bank of China came in, it seems that no matter how much money top-floor resident Li Ka-shing bets, this building’s a divider, not a uniter. Its admirers are dwarfed by those who scream “UGLY!”
Address: Queen’s Road Central

HSBC Headquarters Building
Stats: 587 feet, 47 floors, 20 years old.
Secret Weapon: Boasting possibly the most distinctive design in the city, with the plumbing on the outside, Sir Norman Foster’s masterpiece is the ultimate in pre-handover paranoia design: rumor has it the building can be taken apart and shipped off to be reconstructed elsewhere.
Form: Still one of the most expensive buildings in the city - and looks it. But unfortunately in one of the toughest draws.
Address: Queen’s Road Central

Winner: HSBC Headquarters Building

Cheung Kong’s lighting short circuits in the face of HSBC’s seriously strong offensive: 30,000 tons of steel and 4,500 tons of aluminum. Its 716 intelligent lights search the neighboring grounds for Cheung Kong wreckage.

Find out which building is the winner in pg 2.

SEMI FINALS

HONG DIVISION

Two IFC VS The Peninsula

Winner: TWO IFC

Even Peninsula’s ultra-secret weapon - a Philippe Starck-designed bathroom - can’t save itself from certain defeat at the hands of the third tallest building in the world. The Pen is gracious in defeat by offering its guests waterfront views.

Convention and Exhibition Center VS Legco

Winner: Legco

Modernity and a full slate of world-class concerts at the CEC are still no match for Legco’s elegance, historical value and full slate of active political shenanigans. “Come back in 50 years,” chides Legco. CEC consoles itself with some Pavarotti.

Two IFC VS Legco

Winner: Two IFC

It’s history versus ultra-modernity in this tight showdown. Two IFC’s sheer awesome size blows away Legco’s historical value in a thriller. “Watch over your shoulder,” Legco bitterly hisses. “Next year, the International Commerce Center’s going to leave you in the dust.”

KONG DIVISION

Hopewell Center VS Bank of China Tower

Winner: Bank of China Tower

“Who cares if you’re open all hours for passing residents?” jokes BOC. “People admire this beautiful façade all over the world. You’re a has-been.” Hopewell’s elevators break down in response.

Hong Kong International Airport VS HSBC

Winner: HSBC

It’s a Norman Foster showdown between post modernism and post-post modernism. In an epic fight that goes into overtime, BOC’s attractive compact features finally ground Chek Lap Kok’s sprawling expansiveness.

Bank of China VS HSBC

Winner: Bank of China Tower

HSBC sends off hundreds of fluorescent light beams in a bid to take out Bank of China’s aura. But BOC’s unique design reflects light, blinding HSBC, which bitterly retreats back to the confines of its beautiful atrium. “We’ll meet again,” says HSBC. “Anytime,” says Bank of China.

FINAL

Two IFC VS Bank of China Tower

Winner: Bank Of China Tower

Two IFC comes on like the big man on the block, but Bank Of China faces up to its opponent with ease. “You may be a big guy,” says BOC. “But I’ve got strength AND beauty.” Two IFC breaks down in an early-life crisis. BOC wears its heavyweight belt with pride.

Hear what the public and the professionals have to say about the buildings in Hong Kong.