Speed Loop

The waterfront at Victoria Harbor is a piece of prized asset of Hong Kong. It is a place where people of Hong Kong and guests from aboard converge, interact and enjoy. Presently occupied by a Public Transport Interchange and located adjunct to the historical Tsim Sha Tsui train terminal and the ever bustling Star Ferry Pier, the site is a place imbued with associations of flow of people in different speeds, both in the past and at present. This proposal seeks to explore the manifestation of the multifarious flow of people into architectural forms within the context of Tsim Sha Tsui which is anchored with cultural heritage and monumental buildings. The flow in the past, exemplified by the old train track together with the pedestrian flow at present and the anchors generates the Loop and the Pattern for the piazza. The Loop at the piazza is not only a destination where the glamorous skyline of Hong Kong is showcased, it is also an infrastructure knitted into the urban fabric. It is the piece of missing jigsaw puzzle between Tsim Sha Tsui East, Canton Road, Kowloon Park, Ocean Terminal, Cultural Centre and other icons of Tsim Sha Tsui. On a macroscopic level, the Loop manifests itself beyond its physical appearance as a deck. It is the pedestrian loop that bridges pedestrian, cultural activities and collective memories. On a microscopic level, the historical train tracks are re-traced and weaved with the Pattern which is extracted from illustrations of train components, echoing with the de-commissioned train compartment exhibited at the piazza. Profiles of train components are also applied in the detailing of fixtures likes lamp & flag poles, railings and benches. The piazza will be crafted as a landmark where the past is bridged with the present and lead the people of Hong Kong to embrace for the future.