Construction frenzy may have taken hold of Shanghai and Beijing, not to mention China's hundreds of other towns and cities. But for the past ten years, Hong Kong has floated behind serenely, like a successful, rather conservative older cousin.
Still, there are signs that the city is developing something that other Chinese cities lack: public discourse. Its first architecture biennale, running through March 15, 2008, headlines a growing public interest in the built environment. — Published 2008.0227
The second tower for the International Finance Centre, new headquarters for the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, perches near the narrowest crossing of the beautiful Victoria Harbour and marks a new gateway to the city. The so-called "Two ifc," at Central Waterfront is said to be the world's third-highest building and the safest highrise completed since September 11, 2001. — Published 2004.0421
