Winner: CL3 Architects Ltd
Award: Merit Award for Architecture
The term “Form Follows Function” is greatly challenged in the design of commercial buildings in modern cities as the “function” of it’s tenants becomes generic. H Queen’s is unique in breaking this taboo by imagining it’s occupant early on: situated on the historic Pottinger Street and Queen’s Road Central, this 700 s.m. site with a total built up area of 10,000 s.m. is in the center of Hong Kong’s art district. The redevelopment of the Central Police Station into and art and culture complex is just up the street. Therefore we have imagined the first purpose built vertical art galleries building in the world. Of the 24 floors, about 2/3 are galleries and 1/3 are restaurants. The provision of terraces for the restaurants results in the sculptural form of the building.