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The jury was chaired by Lord Rothschild. I. M. Pei was appointed as honorary special advisor to a panel of professionals including architects and planners. It was somewhat unusual for a project of this magnitude not to have placed more internationally acclaimed architects and planners on the list; that would probably have attracted more than the 90 overseas submissions.

The first prize went to Foster and Partners and the second prize to a team led by Philip Y. K. Liao of Hong Kong. Three honorable mentions went to the "Jewel Scheme" by a team led by Minoru Takeyama, Tokyo, the "West End Scheme" by a joint team of Alan MacDonland and Urbis-LPT Architects, and the "New Leaf Scheme" by a team led by Rocco Sen Kee Yim. Most likely, Foster's scheme will be realized.

The Site

The site is a valuable piece of waterfront land that runs perpendicular to the western shoreline of the Tsim Sha Tsui peninsula. The site forms a recessed L-shape, with buildings on two flanks, perceived as welcoming arms for ocean liners entering Victoria Harbour.

At its westernmost tip, the most commanding position of the site offers a fine panoramic view of the harbor and beyond. The entire length of the 0.9-mile- (1.5 kilometer-) long site enjoys spectacular views of Hong Kong Island and the Peak. To the east is Kowloon Park. At present, greenery is a rare asset in this dense city.

The northern part of the site is bordered by Austin Road. On the other side there will be mixed-use developments with highrise apartments and a supertower to mirror the new 88-story building by Cesar Pelli at the Hong Kong Station Development.

The Five Projects

A lot of the similarities in all five winning schemes are dictated by the geographic characteristics of the site and inspired by the context. The general response to the site favors linear, horizontal architecture served by a central spine from east to west. Towers and blocks on the northern side of the site continue the existing urban pattern and make the solid edge more permeable at the waterfront.

Secondary circulation from the central spine is in form of streets, framed openings relating to the harbor and monumental buildings across the water, and alignments made to various reference points. Generous use of open space is coupled with parkland, making reference to the nearby Kowloon Park.

Despite these similarities, the appearance of the five projects cannot be more diverse. This is partly due to different interpretations of the extent to which the scheme was to have been developed. Some give a very clear vision, and others just provide a conceptual image of what it is likely to be.

The five schemes can be characterized as: one single bold element (Foster), dynamic and compact with complexity (Liao), streamlined with a poetic touch (Takeyama), segmented but integrated clusters of individual buildings (MacDonland/ Urbis-LPT), and a metaphor giving only the buildings' profiles (Rocco).

Prize Winners

The first-prize scheme by Foster and Partners comes up with a bold statement by enclosing most of the vast site under a single canopy. The roof area is some 62 acres (25 hectares) compared to 45 acres (18 hectares) at Chek Lap Kok International Airport. Any single element erected at this scale will be simply eye-catching wherever it is.

The aerodynamic roof structure not only fulfils the symbolic requirement of the government, it also provides a sophisticated, controlled microclimate with sheltered open space. In fact, the upper level of the scheme is a parkland, and the canopy on top gives the perfect solution for outdoor use of open space under all weather conditions.

The scheme turns the site into a park, so badly needed in Hong Kong, and adds an artificial transparent skin over it. However, one might ask, if the canopy is taken away, where is the architecture? All the buildings for the cultural center are embedded underground as interior architecture, with part of the exterior visible only from within the complex as glass domes in the park.

The proposal is a clever solution to the brief and invites locals to change their habit of cocooning inside unhealthy, mechanically ventilated environments.

Philip Liao's second-prize scheme creates a microcosm of Hong Kong. This proposal achieves both dynamic architecture and a rich scheme. It is like a city within a city, teeming with activity. The cityscape is invited into this site with commercial and residential highrises situated on the north, reducing substantially the space available for cultural events.

A central canal divides the site, and the south side is made up of a series of islands linked together by bridges. This is where the cultural and entertainment facilities are to be found. The complexities of multiple layers cross from north to south, meeting inner streets, boardwalk, promenade, and piazza.

The Liao project has brought in elements ensuring the site's commercial viability. This is perhaps the price one has to pay to ensure the project will be built.

Honorable Mentions

The Jewel Scheme is a metaphysical expression — using the contrast of Yin and Yang, verticality and horizontality, density and openness, land and sea, park and complex, and so forth. Although it is intended that the building nearer the water appear less solid and more permeable, the sheer verticality of the linear box along the coastline contradicts the idea of permeability.

The sedateness of the architecture, with sculptural eggs appearing poetically and randomly, is perhaps a little too simplistic and comforting. It lacks the appeal that might arouse in observers a sense of celebration for this cultural center.

The West End Scheme, by contrast, poses a sensible approach, much influenced by urban planning methodology. Its strength is in making the entire development in phases, making it more practical and palatable financially for several developers to be involved.

The whole scheme functions well with the mixture of visitors and residents generating a vibrant atmosphere. It is a multilayered development with evenly distributed functions, with cultural activities occupying only 27 percent of the site. The scheme is divided into four districts of Gateway, Festival, Forum, and Peninsula, with a well planned series of components along the coastline such as ferry and piers. Axial alignments cutting across the site emphasize reference points. It is fragmented architecturally, but perhaps this is the intention.

Conceptually the New Leaf Scheme is the strongest. A sweeping bend to hold the recessed harbor space with the central spine divides the site into two banks. Cultural elements include music schools and museums. Streets are carved out of the landscape as veins branching off a main artery, with framed vistas across the harbor. The vertical fins on the north bank can be interpreted as a series of sails symbolizing Hong Kong. The design is still at its embryo stage, as it should be for an idea competition.

Next week this article will continue with an analysis of the five projects and the process of choosing them.

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Bernard Chan is editor of p&d Editorial and Pace Publishing and former tutor at SPACE of the University of Hong Kong. His publications include X Volumes of Architecture.

This article was first published in HKIA Journal, the official journal of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects.

Philip Liao's second-prize scheme creates a microcosm of Hong Kong, with commercial and residential highrises situated to the north and cultural facilities to the west. Image: Philip Y. K. Liao Model of the Liao scheme, with the cultural hub in the foreground, and layers of promenade, mall, and commercial towers along the east-west axis. Image: Philip Y. K. Liao The "Jewel Scheme," by a team led by Minoru Takeyama, is the only one that builds right up to the waterfront. Image: Minoru Takeyama Scenes from the Jewel Scheme. Image: Minoru Takeyama The "West End Scheme" by Alan MacDonland and Urbis-LPT Architects is divided into four districts of Gateway, Festival, Forum, and Peninsula. Image: Alan MacDonland and Urbis-LPT Architects Site plan for the West End Scheme. Image: Alan MacDonland and Urbis-LPT Architects The "New Leaf Scheme" by a team led by Rocco Sen Kee Yim forms a sweeping bend in its central spine that divides the site into two banks. Image: Rocco Sen Kee Yim In the New Leaf Scheme, veins branch off a main artery, framing vistas across the harbor. Image: Rocco Sen Kee Yim   Click on thumbnail images to view full-size pictures.