Hello Hong Kong. My Name is Frank Gehry.

One of the most-not-so-quiet-secrets about Hong Kong’s future developments is the buzz surrounding a new residential tower to be completed by SWIRE Properties in 2012. This sort of secret project took almost a decade to prepare and design.

As most of us who live in Hong Kong know, Government rules and regulations are quite strict. People who have worked on Residential projects locally have experienced for the most part minimal wiggle room for their designs, due to a variety of factors; site restrictions, regulations, and budgetary constraints which is way beyond the Architect’s control. Hence we end up with whole neighborhoods that look like this, as depicted by photographer Michael Wolf.

Meanwhile High-Rise Residential Design everywhere else around the world has already transformed by leaps and bounds, changing how people are expected to live within their matchboxes in the sky. For example, my friend wrote an article about his funky residential development in Beijing designed by New York’s Steven Holl.

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Even in space-constrained island cities like Manhattan, some other architects also get to play with the developer and within the city’s strict building codes to come up with interesting new tower concepts. This one below, the Beekman Tower by California’s Frank Gehry, just opened this year.

The building stands at 870 feet tall (87 meters), which is not much to China, but has the distinction of being the tallest residential tower in the Western Hemisphere.

Corrugated steel metal panels clad the external structure, basically taking a classic Manhattan tower facade, and making it look like fabric blowing in the wind.

If you think the work looks familiar, it’s because the architect that built that, also built this in Bilbao, Spain.

That’s the Guggenheim Museum above. Gehry also designed the famous Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles along the same aesthetic vein.

Imagine if Hong Kong got something as iconic as Beekman, Guggenheim, or Walt Disney Hall on its urban skyline. What would it look like? Would it look like this?

and this?

and this?

And if you moved in, which unit would you prefer? They’re each 6,000 square feet with major sea views and large balconies.

You can actually find information about this project on the SWIRE Properties website, the Frank Gehry Website, and the RLPHK Website, the projects main architect. If you go to 53 Stubbs Road, you’ll see the building currently under construction. The tower is slated to open 2012 and up to now marketing for the tower has yet to be released… well until this Friday that is, when SWIRE will host a full Frank Gehry Retrospective at ArtiTree in Quarry Bay to introduce the iconic designer to Hong Kong for the first time. (Ie. Move aside Foster for a minute.)

Frank Gehry.

Titled Outside the Box | Frank Gehry, the exhibition marks a milestone for Hong Kong’s arts and cultural scene, and pays tribute to the work of one of the world’s most important and distinctive architects, whose bold designs have changed the face of architecture. Cited as one of the most culturally influential people in the world in the last 15 years by Wallpaper* magazine, Frank Gehry has redefined the boundaries of architecture with such celebrated projects worldwide inspiring others to think outside the conventional boundaries in their fields. 

This exhibition features a number of past and recent projects which illustrate the depth and breadth of the Pritzker Prize-winning architect’s talent. It provides an insight into his unconventional design process, showcasing sketches, images and unique conceptual study models from the Gehry Partners’ archive. Never before seen in Hong Kong, these study models, which could be considered works of art in themselves, give visitors a glimpse into how this renowned creative talent works. Visitors will also have the opportunity to observe the design evolution of Frank Gehry’s first residential project in Asia. 

Is Hong Kong ready? I think they’ll just have to be. And whether you’re a Gehry fan or not, you have to agree, the Residential market here in Hong Kong has to be a tad bit more flexible. I hope there’s a talk or something soon. Ive seen his lectures in New York and enjoyed it immensely. Every architect designs differently, and he sculpts buildings like a sculptor would sculpt art. He’s straightforward about this, and I respect that. Anyway, I cant wait to see the show. The models themselves have to be pretty amazing.

ArtisTree, 1/F, Cornwall House, TaiKoo Place, Island East, Hong Kong
Friday, 09 September to 27 October 2011
10 am – 8 pm daily – Free admission
enquiry@gehryexhibition.com.hk | 2844 3887

http://www.gehryexhibition.com.hk/en/

JJ.

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