Hey,
I am back on the road...
I am in Hong Kong for the weekend,
would like to get some hints on the latest in architecture.
I already saw Pei and Foster...
Where is located Fuksas' Armani??
Any good bars-clubs to go out? ( SOHO?)
If any archinecters are going out this weekend let me know.
This is from personal experiece - - Hong Kong isn't really a place to see exceptional architecture. But don't take my word for it. LOL. Hong Kong is more of a shopping city more than anything...Nothing much to see, nothing much to do (though I love Ocean Park).
yea, Hong Kong does not strike me as an architectural mecca by any means, though i really like the HSBC bank, Renzo Piano's waterfront concert hall and IM Pei's bank. IMHO its more of a place to just feel the energy generated by people. The nightlife is amazing and the food is so good.
A good place for some good bars/restaurants is the Lan Kwai Fong district - some cool bars and MANY beautiful people!
Enjoy the Chek Lap Kok airport by Norman Foster as you fly in and out... there were a lot of superlatives about it during the building (it was built on reclaimed land) and if I remember correctly it's one of the longest interior covered spaces. (I saw a Discovery Channel documentary about it)... Admire the Louis Kahn-esque (not really-) barrel vaults with the top lighting. ;)
Go check out Chungking Mansions. Go to the tenements in Kowloon. Go visit some of the vernacular homes in the New Teritorries. The view from Aqua is nice but Hong Kong is always too polluted to see much anyway.
... is no more
The Cafe became Armani Bar...they tore it down and replaced it by a minimalist boring faceless bar...
but when I was there, a private party would be happening so a few models were having dinner and champagne on the house (they do eat!)... free lunch at armani's...a sleazy way to have some beautiful drunk 16yrs old at your party!
The shops are still there...Armani World...
and have a look at another wicked Louis Vuitton facade across the street...
Hey, who the hell did the Hong Kong Cultural Center on the Alley of the Stars...right on the piers with the views of all Hong Kong Island unfolding...
The architects did'nt put ANY windows...
It's the worst architectural solution I ever seen considering this is a World class location in front of the supposedly voted #1 Skyline in the world. They should do hara-kiri or put a jihad on themselves (kidding...barely!).
yes gotan you are right...unfortunately i happen to know the engineering firm who did that monstrosity....bunch of a-holes if you ask me.
The list of eyesores in Hong Kong is pretty long actually. If you go upto the Peak (a bit touristy, but a must-have view of the lagoon), you will see a huge ugly building (i think its a hotel) right next to the terrace....
go to lantau island. it's a ferry boat from main island hong kong. it's a gorgous island that is very natural. there is a buddhist templel on the highetst point of the island. other than that, nothing architectural to see but the island's natural landscape is well worth any built infrasturcture.
You must go to Tai O. From what I know, there are no places to stay, but it is definitely worth at least a day trip. When I went, there was an architectural/urban planning design competition to revitalize the entire village/town.
for nite clubs and cool hang out place, get the pocket size "luxe" at the airport or pageone bookstore, they update every 6 months and information is good enough for a local also...
u find architecture in hk not in the building but the urban landscape... there are several shopping mall which is very different from the west, mega box, langham center, festival walk... the interior of restaurant is pretty much the most updated style and fashion u can get worldwide...
and dun forget to go to macau for casino and food^^
I was in HK this summer. Went out to Lantau Island. You get there via a 5.6 km cable car (you get a good view of the airport as well), and then there is a huge Buddha on the mountain. It was pretty cool. Sounds like people are more into contemporary stuff (well, this Buddha is only from the 90's I think). But it's pretty close (HK's not that big) and it was cool. Also the Peak was fun. Touristy, but fun, and had cool views of the city from above. I think it's called Hollywood (street?) were you can get all sorts of cool yet crappy stuff for cheap (like fake antiques). I got a bone and bamboo Mahjong set for $30. It's pretty cool haha. And then just walking around the city is fun. On Sundays, all the Filipina domestic servants lounge around in the financial district. There are literally thousands and thousands of them hanging out, eating noodles, playing cards, sleeping. I was living in Japan, so the shopping malls weren't so different from what I was used to. But if you've never seen an Asian shopping mall, it's pretty cool. Although, good ole' King of Prussia outside of Philly is still the world's largest mall based on leased retail area from what I last heard (it doesn't have rides, water parks, pools etc, so in actual area, it's smaller than some others).
That reminds me. Hasselhoff, I was there during the summer too! It is supposed to be like the largest outdoor sitting buddha made of copper. With all those qualifiers, its gotta be true! It was so awkward in the cablecar, because I was in there with a large family.
I also visited the temple of 10,000 buddhas in HK. There are golden buddhist monks (not real gold but all representing different individuals) aligning the entire walk up the mountain, and the temple is at the peak. Apparently it has more than 10,000 buddhas - which I thought was funny because don't you usually round up for this sort of thing?
Yeah, I was blown away by it until I saw the date marker of 1995 or something. Still pretty awesome, but less awesome than if it was 1595. Great views, the cable car was fun (I was in there with a mom and two kids). I have this funny picture of the Tang Dynasty Starbucks with the Buddha in the background.
Hasselhoff, I agree about the historical qualities, but I think it is a little impressive that a massive sculptural/religious project can get any traction and funding in modern day. You don't see too many classic stone cathedrals with flying butresses being built these days, you know?
Postal, don't worry, we'll see the Buddha and Tai O on the same day trip.
I know what your saying. But yeah, still cool, that's why I suggested it. Guess it's just 'cuz there is a huge Buddha (maybe a bit smaller) in Kamakura Japan, about 45 minutes from where I was living, that was hundreds of years old.
the cable car is suppose the world longest one... it is architecturally interesting because there were station inbetween as node point for the turning of the cable car... the interior of those deserted station is fantastic.
for ur information, in buddha tradition, the sculpture shall face the sea which fits very well to buddha philosophy... however, the monks in there have this long history of corrupted mind, they decided to face north to mainland china, so as to express their conformist status...
I've been living in Hong Kong for almost a year now, i love the culture, the food, the people and the architecture.
Places to visit: Man Mo Temple on Hollywood street (also along this street are wonderful antiques and art galleries, but many are closed on Sundays)
Stanley Municipal Service Building in Stanley,
Fotanian open studio (it's an old industrial place turned into artist studios, it'll open to public this weekend),
JCACC (similar to Fotanian but closer to the city)
the Wetland Park in Tin Shui Wei (although a bit far but worth a visit),
Hong Kong Science Park Phase 2,
IFC where batman fly down the tower,
Pottinger Street and areas around it,
recently the W hotel was finished.
and out of all things, the bamboo scaffolding and hk skyline at night
In Hong Kong for the weekend...what's the best of?
Hey,
I am back on the road...
I am in Hong Kong for the weekend,
would like to get some hints on the latest in architecture.
I already saw Pei and Foster...
Where is located Fuksas' Armani??
Any good bars-clubs to go out? ( SOHO?)
If any archinecters are going out this weekend let me know.
www.jsbourdages.com
This is from personal experiece - - Hong Kong isn't really a place to see exceptional architecture. But don't take my word for it. LOL. Hong Kong is more of a shopping city more than anything...Nothing much to see, nothing much to do (though I love Ocean Park).
yea, Hong Kong does not strike me as an architectural mecca by any means, though i really like the HSBC bank, Renzo Piano's waterfront concert hall and IM Pei's bank. IMHO its more of a place to just feel the energy generated by people. The nightlife is amazing and the food is so good.
A good place for some good bars/restaurants is the Lan Kwai Fong district - some cool bars and MANY beautiful people!
Enjoy the Chek Lap Kok airport by Norman Foster as you fly in and out... there were a lot of superlatives about it during the building (it was built on reclaimed land) and if I remember correctly it's one of the longest interior covered spaces. (I saw a Discovery Channel documentary about it)... Admire the Louis Kahn-esque (not really-) barrel vaults with the top lighting. ;)
you must definitely check out the view from aqua. a restaurant located in one peking road in kowloon
www.aqua.com.hk
and if they're still having the daily light show at 8 o'clock...it'd be great to check it out from there...
Go check out Chungking Mansions. Go to the tenements in Kowloon. Go visit some of the vernacular homes in the New Teritorries. The view from Aqua is nice but Hong Kong is always too polluted to see much anyway.
Yes Thanks!
By the way, I would like to tell that unfortunately that great Fuksas interior of the Armani Cafe (you know the wicked red ribbon...
http://images.google.com.hk/images?hl=en&q=fuksas%20armani&sa=N&tab=wi
... is no more
The Cafe became Armani Bar...they tore it down and replaced it by a minimalist boring faceless bar...
but when I was there, a private party would be happening so a few models were having dinner and champagne on the house (they do eat!)... free lunch at armani's...a sleazy way to have some beautiful drunk 16yrs old at your party!
The shops are still there...Armani World...
and have a look at another wicked Louis Vuitton facade across the street...
Will check out those Mansions
cheers!
Hey, who the hell did the Hong Kong Cultural Center on the Alley of the Stars...right on the piers with the views of all Hong Kong Island unfolding...
The architects did'nt put ANY windows...
It's the worst architectural solution I ever seen considering this is a World class location in front of the supposedly voted #1 Skyline in the world. They should do hara-kiri or put a jihad on themselves (kidding...barely!).
The world class eyesore:
http://sccm.stanford.edu/~elling/taiwan-urlaub/hongkong/prime30.html
The view you should get:
http://sccm.stanford.edu/~elling/taiwan-urlaub/hongkong/prime11.html
yes gotan you are right...unfortunately i happen to know the engineering firm who did that monstrosity....bunch of a-holes if you ask me.
The list of eyesores in Hong Kong is pretty long actually. If you go upto the Peak (a bit touristy, but a must-have view of the lagoon), you will see a huge ugly building (i think its a hotel) right next to the terrace....
go to lantau island. it's a ferry boat from main island hong kong. it's a gorgous island that is very natural. there is a buddhist templel on the highetst point of the island. other than that, nothing architectural to see but the island's natural landscape is well worth any built infrasturcture.
Re-surfacing (bump)
I'm going to HK for the first week of Feb.
Anyone want to add to the list?
(And we don't have a map in Google Map Tour Guide Central for Hong Kong. (This is an official challenge to you 'necters in HK.)
You must go to Tai O. From what I know, there are no places to stay, but it is definitely worth at least a day trip. When I went, there was an architectural/urban planning design competition to revitalize the entire village/town.
for nite clubs and cool hang out place, get the pocket size "luxe" at the airport or pageone bookstore, they update every 6 months and information is good enough for a local also...
u find architecture in hk not in the building but the urban landscape... there are several shopping mall which is very different from the west, mega box, langham center, festival walk... the interior of restaurant is pretty much the most updated style and fashion u can get worldwide...
and dun forget to go to macau for casino and food^^
I was in HK this summer. Went out to Lantau Island. You get there via a 5.6 km cable car (you get a good view of the airport as well), and then there is a huge Buddha on the mountain. It was pretty cool. Sounds like people are more into contemporary stuff (well, this Buddha is only from the 90's I think). But it's pretty close (HK's not that big) and it was cool. Also the Peak was fun. Touristy, but fun, and had cool views of the city from above. I think it's called Hollywood (street?) were you can get all sorts of cool yet crappy stuff for cheap (like fake antiques). I got a bone and bamboo Mahjong set for $30. It's pretty cool haha. And then just walking around the city is fun. On Sundays, all the Filipina domestic servants lounge around in the financial district. There are literally thousands and thousands of them hanging out, eating noodles, playing cards, sleeping. I was living in Japan, so the shopping malls weren't so different from what I was used to. But if you've never seen an Asian shopping mall, it's pretty cool. Although, good ole' King of Prussia outside of Philly is still the world's largest mall based on leased retail area from what I last heard (it doesn't have rides, water parks, pools etc, so in actual area, it's smaller than some others).
That reminds me. Hasselhoff, I was there during the summer too! It is supposed to be like the largest outdoor sitting buddha made of copper. With all those qualifiers, its gotta be true! It was so awkward in the cablecar, because I was in there with a large family.
I also visited the temple of 10,000 buddhas in HK. There are golden buddhist monks (not real gold but all representing different individuals) aligning the entire walk up the mountain, and the temple is at the peak. Apparently it has more than 10,000 buddhas - which I thought was funny because don't you usually round up for this sort of thing?
Yeah, I was blown away by it until I saw the date marker of 1995 or something. Still pretty awesome, but less awesome than if it was 1595. Great views, the cable car was fun (I was in there with a mom and two kids). I have this funny picture of the Tang Dynasty Starbucks with the Buddha in the background.
Hasselhoff, I agree about the historical qualities, but I think it is a little impressive that a massive sculptural/religious project can get any traction and funding in modern day. You don't see too many classic stone cathedrals with flying butresses being built these days, you know?
Postal, don't worry, we'll see the Buddha and Tai O on the same day trip.
I know what your saying. But yeah, still cool, that's why I suggested it. Guess it's just 'cuz there is a huge Buddha (maybe a bit smaller) in Kamakura Japan, about 45 minutes from where I was living, that was hundreds of years old.
the cable car is suppose the world longest one... it is architecturally interesting because there were station inbetween as node point for the turning of the cable car... the interior of those deserted station is fantastic.
for ur information, in buddha tradition, the sculpture shall face the sea which fits very well to buddha philosophy... however, the monks in there have this long history of corrupted mind, they decided to face north to mainland china, so as to express their conformist status...
I've been living in Hong Kong for almost a year now, i love the culture, the food, the people and the architecture.
Places to visit: Man Mo Temple on Hollywood street (also along this street are wonderful antiques and art galleries, but many are closed on Sundays)
Stanley Municipal Service Building in Stanley,
Fotanian open studio (it's an old industrial place turned into artist studios, it'll open to public this weekend),
JCACC (similar to Fotanian but closer to the city)
the Wetland Park in Tin Shui Wei (although a bit far but worth a visit),
Hong Kong Science Park Phase 2,
IFC where batman fly down the tower,
Pottinger Street and areas around it,
recently the W hotel was finished.
and out of all things, the bamboo scaffolding and hk skyline at night
for trendy restaurants- the prawns, W hotel...
& of course ocean park for panda!!
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