36 Gardens

Hong Kong is unique in the world for its geographical setting, its economic freedom, and its political system. These conditions have already lead to the development of a unique urban fabric on the north shore of Hong Kong island. 36 Gardens is a proposal for the Central Waterfront that recognizes these unique qualities and works with them to create not simply a generic empty space, the front yard of a city that could be anywhere and could have any history, but a vibrant and living public resource that addresses the city's real needs and specific qualities, and that symbolizes the unique culture of Hong Kong. 36 Gardens extends the elevated circulation network linking the fabric Central, Admiralty, Wan Chai and eventually Causeway Bay into the waterfront district. Implicitly, the proposal acknowledges that this circulation system, not the ground level streets, is the most vibrant pedestrian datum in the Pedestrians will be able to walk along a continuous elevated network from Central to Wan Chai, passing commercial malls, cultural program, recreational facilities, and weaving through 36 distinct, open, public urban gardens stepping down to a waterfront promenade.