CONSTRUCTING CULTURE – Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District

The West Kowloon Cultural District in Hong Kong is one of the world’s largest and most ambitious cultural projects. Currently under construction, it will establish a dynamic cultural quarter on 40 hectares of reclaimed land located on Hong Kong’s iconic Victoria Harbour. With 23 hectares of public open space comprised of the Art Park, two kilometres of waterfront promenade, squares, plazas and terraces, the district also aims to be an open and accessible recreation destination for locals and international visitors alike.

Featuring buildings by leading international architects, including the M+ Museum by Herzog & de Meuron, the Xiqu Centre / Opera House by Bing Thom Architects, the Lyric Theatre by UNStudio and the Palace Museum by Rocco Design Architects, the district will deliver landmark architecture within a clearly defined cultural precinct where traffic is taken below ground and walking and cycling are encouraged at street level.

The symposium will give an introduction to the development and the urban strategies of the new district and will present the two projects that are currently under construction: the M+ Museum by Herzog & de Meuron and the Xiqu Centre by Bing Thom Architects. 


Welcome 
Beate Engelhorn, Curator, Aedes Architecture Forum, Berlin

Lectures
Duncan Pescod, CEO, WKCD Authority, Hong Kong: Introduction to the West Kowloon Cultural District  

Martin Biewenga, Architect, West 8 Urban Design & Landscape, Rotterdam: Open Space and Landscape Design 

Eric Schuldenfrei, Director / Founding Partner ESKYIU, Hong Kong: The M+ Museum

Earle Briggs, Lead Architect of Bing Thom Architects, Vancouver: The Xiqu Centre


Followed by a Q&A moderated by
Jürgen Tietz, Art Historian and Journalist, Berlin

After the talk, at 6.30 pm, we cordially invite you to attend the Exhibition Opening at Aedes Architecture Forum next door.