Cultural Connect: Key to Sustained Vitality / Rocco Design Architects Limited

Aug 2010

By Karen Cilento — Filed under: Urban Planning , China, Hong Kong, Rocco Design Architects, West Kowloon Cultural District Authority

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Here’s the third proposal by Rocco Design Architects Limited for the West Kowloon Cultural District (be sure to view OMA’s proposal and Foster + Partners’ proposal previously featured on AD). Rocco’s concept, entitled ”Cultural Connect: Key to Sustained Vitality,” started with two basic questions - Have we ever wondered why we are fascinated by Qing Ming Riverside? And, why exactly do we want a West Kowloon Cultural Dsitrict. Using these questions are a starting point, the proposal seeks to design a place where different groups of people can enjoy different activities “in the same space and at the same time.”

More about the proposal including images after the break.

The plan intends to “create this energy which is conducive to a spirit of exploration and discovery,” explained the architects. Their plan is appreciated as the layers unfold. Rather than creating iconic monuments, the plan celebrates the common places and spaces “breaking the District’s isolation by forging connections with the community in different directions.”

The plan is designed to establish an un-impeded cultural field to ensure fluidity and connectivity between the different art and cultural forms. ”Ultimately this would bring about not just flashes of brilliance, but long-term and sustained vitality,” added the architects.

After seeing the three plans, which do you find most successful?

As seen on Bustler.

Cite:
Cilento , Karen . "Cultural Connect: Key to Sustained Vitality / Rocco Design Architects Limited" 29 Aug 2010. ArchDaily. Accessed 09 Feb 2012. <http://www.archdaily.com/75384>

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Mic says:

It’s about time!

Probably the best out of the bunch. You can really see what Rocco is going for – the idea of having layers side by side seems more logical than the more isolated layouts from OMA and Foster

# August 29, 2010 at 09:04

viniruski says:

I think this proposal responds best to the site with its layered zones, and especially the green roofs sloped towards Victoria Harbour. The “fragrant harbour” should be the hearth of the city, just like Copacabana is to Rio: a gathering place where one can escape the cramped density of the city and enjoy the openness of the harbour/ocean.

One weakness of this design is that it does not relate well to the labyrinth complexity that is Hong Kong, much as the OMA proposal is multi-layered and diverse in qualities of space and program. Both in a city like Hong Kong, anything out of the ordinary is adaptable.

# August 29, 2010 at 11:31

boniii says: