A cruise terminal on the site of the former Kai Tak airport in Hong Kong designed by Foster + Partners.
Description from Foster + Partners:
Following an international competition, Foster + Partners was invited to design a cruise terminal on the site of the former Kai Tak airport in Hong Kong. The new terminal, which is due to open in 2013, will have capacity to berth two large 360-metre-long vessels, which disembark a total of 5,400 passengers and 1,200 crew, as well as anticipating the demands of cruise liners currently on the drawing board. The linear arrangement of light-filled passenger areas is characterised by its clarity and ease of use, services are integrated with the structure and the different levels are fused with the surrounding pedestrian walkways. The sustainable design combines a number of energy saving measures, as well as generating power from renewable sources and making use of recycled rain water for cooling.
The terminal has a generous, rectangular footprint and is arranged over three main levels, encased by a lattice of large white ‘fins’ that allow daylight to filter through to the concourse spaces. The baggage handling area, customs hall and back office functions are placed on the ground floor, with the arrivals hall on a mezzanine level above. The first floor incorporates the check-in and waiting areas, as well as a public colonnade, shops and cafes. A pedestrian promenade rises up through the building and opens onto a large public roof garden, with open and sheltered spaces for informal picnics, outdoor dining and more formal events such as wedding banquets, set against the stunning backdrop of the city. The site on the south-western tip of the old runway has unobstructed views of the eastern entrance to Hong Kong harbour, framing both Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.
The design is highly flexible, incorporating spaces that are suitable for other functions and enabling the building to be used all year round and fully utilising down time. The spacious interior, which spans 42.5 metres, allows the concourse areas to be converted into a venue for performances, events and exhibitions, supported by a variety of restaurants and shops.
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