UK-based architecture studio Zaha Hadid Architects designs modern masterpieces across the globe. But their latest build in Hong Kong might actually break records. That's because the 36-story, 623-foot-tall skyscraper at 2 Murray Road is situated on the world's most expensive plot of land.
Developer Henderson Land purchased the land for HK$23.3 billion ($3 billion) in 2017, reportedly making it the world's most expensive site according to multiple news sources. Now, what was once a car park in the city's central business district will be turned into an all-glass clad tower, adjacent to the Bank of China Tower by I.M. Pei. It will also be located near another architectural gem: the HSBC building by Foster + Partners.
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As far as the Hadid build goes, renderings show the skyscraper with an all-glass facade with curved edges made to look like a Bauhinia bud. These petal-like features are situated to provide the base for two open-air balconies filled with trees. There will also be a lower balcony filled with plants to create a sky-high garden. A banquet hall at the top of the building will provide incredible views of the city, and a running track will be available to visitors.
The entire building will be elevated off the ground to ensure it can be accessed via the city's pedestrian walkways. It will also provide a chance to add more greenery to the space as the underside can be filled with courtyards and gardens connected with the nearby parks.
While the design itself is certainly striking, it also meets the LEED Platinum sustainability rating and three stars in China's Green Building Rating Program. That's thanks, in part, to the insulated glass units and naturally ventilated floors.
“We have been developing all aspects of the project in close collaboration with our client in Hong Kong," commented Zaha Hadid Architects. "Designed to integrate with its surrounding environment, these principles of assimilation are fundamental to the design that is in harmony with its neighbours, not in competition.”
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The 2 Murray Road project will mark Zaha Hadid Architects' second in Hong Kong, the other being the Jockey Club Innovation Tower on the Hong Kong Polytechnic University campus.
