New Architecture Walking Tours

Welcome to the Tai Kwun Contemporary New Architecture walking tour. In this tour, we will be able to learn about how Herzog and De Meuron architecture firm developed an approach which would transform the Former Central Police Station, Central Magistracy and Victoria Prison site into a new cultural destination for the Hong Kong community. This tour begins at the Mango tree and ends at the auditorium Laundry Steps.

Credits:
The Architecture audio walking guide has been adapted from the commissioned film Tai Kwun New Architecture directed by Sharon Yeung and Adrian Lo

Conceived and organised by Tobias Berger, Melissa Lee, and Jacqueline Liu

Starring:
English Narrator: Chi-Yan Chan

Featuring voices and video of Ascan Mergenthaler and Jacques Herzog

Cantonese Narrator: Edman Choy

Cantonese voice (Ascan Morgenthaler)- William So

Cantonese voice (Jacques Herzog)- Daniel Szehin Ho

Established by the British after 1841 as the colony’s main police station, magistracy, and prison, the site is one of Hong Kong’s most important remaining historical monuments in Hong Kong. We will look at characteristics of how the new and old buildings connect in a way that will make the beautiful architecture come alive.

It might be interesting for you to know about the previous Herzog and De Meuron design for Tai Kwun which evolved into the current site plan today. Feel free to take a seat at one of our benches while we discuss what’s in front of you.

You can also listen here to Jacques Herzog discuss the overarching design.

A key part to understanding the architecture of Tai Kwun are the themes of connectivity and integration. Let’s listen to architect partner in charge Ascan Mergenthaler describe a ground plan of the site. 

Now we are at JC Contemporary, which house the art galleries, called Tai Kwun Contemporary.For the art galleries, Herzog and De Meuron wanted to make different spaces to create different possibilities about art and cultural projects.  Let’s listen to Jacques Herzog describe specifically how he envisioned the galleries.

The other new building across from Tai Kwun Contemporary is known as JC Cube, or the auditorium.  As the former site had no space for sprinkler and air conditioning plants, two-thirds of this building is used as the plant room. The new material is all in concrete and the heritage material is in brick and iron. Even though the materials are different, the new bricks imitate the old brick in an echoing of heritage and language.  Let’s hear architect Ascan Morgenthaler discuss the difference.