SCENIC acted as landscape designer for one of the bids for Site 3 in Central, one of the last key waterfront sites overlooking Victoria Harbour and the final component of an open space network which has been evolving for over a decade. The planned Waterfront Park between the Star Ferry Pier and the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre will be a major part of this system, with links further along the waterfront to Wanchai in the east and Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park in the west and offering panoramic harbour vistas and maritime related experiences. Originally part of the sea, the Site has a history of successive reclamation and development as a civic and cultural waterfront, a waterfront transport hub as well as part of the city’s central commercial district. The Site development is the next chapter of this evolution of Central’s waterfront.  Our intent is to celebrate the dynamics of this changing shoreline with creative interpretations of the natural and cultural patterns that have shaped the coast applied to the planning and design of the Site.

The project provides an opportunity is to bring life back to Central, as in common with other business districts, the area can currently be rather quiet outside work hours. The landscape design and open spaces work with a more diversified development mix to provide programmes, features and facilities which can attract a greater variety of user groups spread over different times of the day and over the weekend. The team sought to create a landmark green building designed around sustainable principles. The landscape aspects of this approach shall include integrated greening at building facades and green roofs, incorporation of rainwater capture and sustainable drainage, and use of native and adaptive species to help promote urban biodiversity.